One of the best examples that exists about how similar cultures are is the tendance of a woman to want to shop. I'm sorry if that sounds sexist, but to me it has a ring of similarity. The only thing that my parents ever really fought about when I was a kid (my father was working two jobs, and my mom was/is a school teach, which doesn't pay much) was my mom sneaking a dress or a new pair of shoes onto the credit card bill.

To her defense, the only reason her spending seemed exhorbitant was the fact that my father is the most frugal person on the planet. He can't even buy a pack of gum without checking consumer reports, internet forums on gum products, and asking the company for a test pack first.

Yesterday, Fanfan came home from the bank with a new necklace and two new bracelets from H&M. When she saw my grimace that said, "Ma petite, we've got no money to be spending on things we don't need," she frowned cutely and said, "But, I was feeling sad about always paying bills. I was frustrated. I hate paying bills. I wanted to show myself that all of my money isn't just going to bills." I wish there was some way to convey to you the immeasurable cuteness she is able to display when she says things like this.

And yes, "cuteness" is the only word for it. It's like when Dana Carvey talked about his son asking if God has feet and getting weak in the knees from the cuteness. All I can do is laugh when she does it. She has the most disarming goddamn cuteness. That's all I can say.

"T'es faché?" she asked me.

I told that there wasn't any chance I could be mad at someone so incredibly cute, and she was lucky for that.

Her face lit up, "Ils sont jolies, n'est pas?" she said, jingling the necklace and holding up her wrist for me to look at the bracelets.

I just laughed and went back to doing the dishes.


Technorati tags:love, culture, life, relationships, Love, Taiwan, Women, Shopping