Just when you think your doing the right thing !

Sad but true, a religious experience.

So, there I was at the supermarket with my trolley full of items excited because I was going to make an effort in my cooking that night. I have been so lazy with my cooking since leaving home. SO that night I was making, Japanese, beef tataki then chicken terriaki, our favourites, would have loved to make Goyza but i haven't been able to find the pastry.

Anyways, a lady was standing , very regal in all her black garb (which incidentally was lined with a lot of gold bling bling) finishing loading her items onto the conveyor belt. I thought to myself, what is the right thing to do, having had a number of experiences, and read all the local customs and visited all the local religious spots and asked all the questions, I waited for her to finish. Once all items were scanned and she had moved her trolley forward, then waited for her counterparts (other women in black) to drop their favourite lollies on the counter, post groceries scanned, two more dropping things, cashier told her her bill was totalled to 800 or so dhms (about 265 aussie bucks), she looked at me, she looked at the bag packer, she looked at the roof, ignoring all around her. Hmm, i thought to myself and still waited patiently, not putting anything on the conveyor belt. The cashier again mentioned the amount to be paid, and the lady glared, the packer then also mentioned the amount to be paid. I thought, well all her things are packed, the money asked for, nothing on the conveyor belt. I will commence loading the conveyor belt.

SO i loaded and packed the conveyor belt full of my things, still the lady stood, ignoring everyone. I think, like the cashier may have, she was waiting for the man to come and pay!!

NO, I was so wrong.

She glared at me, and yelled in a loud voice, get your things off here, i have not finished.

Imagine my shock, the cashiers shock, the packers shock, who by now was standing with the trolley ready to take it to her car.

Sorry I said. GET IT OFF. Sorry I said. YOU - GET THAT OFF.

You have finished i said. I HAVE TROLLEY COMING. (oh i forgot to say she stood at about 6ft2)

I then said , no I'm sorry you have finished and there is no trolley in sight and i have loaded my things. I DON'T CARE, GET IT OFF. At which time, she commenced pushing my items off the conveyor belt, being quick i caught the couple of items that fell off the back.

I said i don't think so. You have finished - HALLAS. Using one of the Arabic words i am comfortable with. She glared at me YOU GET IT OFF NOW and started to push me away.

The things that went through my head were not pretty i have to say, and if you know me i am very forthright and always say my peace, well when i am being wronged by a stranger, or having to pay for things i shouldnt (but too shy when people i know do it to me). So i took the submissive approach I tend to take when friendships and family (and possibly my freedom) are at stake. I bowed my head and looked at my trolley....what to do, what to do, what to do.....pop my bacon on the counter....!!!!!maybe not.

I stood and looked at her, i then started to pack my things pack in my trolley. Can you imagine,
the lady in black with gold trim (obviously head lady in the house), three or four sub ladies, a couple of their kids in national clothing, the cashier, the packer, the customers, staring at me, waiting to see what i would do. I felt like crying.

The lady pushed me, telling me to hurry and shoving her body in front of me, I glanced up to see two trolleys coming, stacked high, Filipino maids pushing them....Ohh i felt so sorry for them.

When the trolley got there she started pushing it past me and again shoving me into the counter. OK THAT'S ENOUGH... I turned to her and said this is disgraceful, that she should have told me she wasnt finished and that this was not right. I was feeling very intimidated and . She said YOU ARE IN MY COUNTRY AND YOU DO WHAT I SAY. I just repeated this is not right.

A boy - one of the sons, Nath's age - 10 , came up from behind the lady and started laughing in my face. I said to him, it is not a right thing to do this, you should have some respect. The woman said, YOU STUPID WOMAN, you talked to the baby, you are nothing. Oh boy. what the !!!

I replied, you are a disgrace to your people, and you show me no honor (yep i heard that this is The best way to speak, better than ###****++++)

She was horrified and stared at me. I pushed her trolley back, I slowly unloaded and gracefully moved to the next counter. The people waiting in the queue behind me were so shocked they just stood there in the queue while the two trolleys were pushed pass them.

I looked back to make sure i had everything and she then, caught my eyes and swore at me in Arabic, i recognised some of the words. I couldnt believe it, it was like she had just spat at me. I stared at her, told her i thought i was in a Muslim country and that swearing was against their religion. As her mouth dropped, I turned away and didn't look back.

I know I should have walked away while my things were on the belt, but i so wanted to make our favourite meal.

You know its fear built in here, I should have reported her, but then who am I!


HAPPY SUPERMARKET SHOPPING.