I have just
returned from a bit of grocery shopping. I am re-stocking my refrigerator with
some essentials - milk and bread, a bunch of bananas, a nice mango - and a
fresh packet of cocoa pops. The shops were more crowded than normal. This is
because it has been raining all day so I guess people were looking for stuff to
do indoors.
Shopping is
always a bit of a challenge here in Singapore. Many Singaporeans have little
spatial awareness so they block the narrow shopping aisles without paying heed
to other customers. There is a tendency to also stare at products on the
shelves in a blank fashion. Price is everything too to the Singaporean so they
will rummage amongst items trying to find the best value for money. God forbid
when there are sales on products. The normally placid and slow moving
Singaporeans will get very aggressive in pursuing a bargain. It can become
somewhat of a frenzy.
I rarely do
enough shopping that justifies the use of a trolley however I have taken to
getting one anyway simply to use as a battering ram to clear the aisle ways for
me. A bit blunt and rude I know however my patience wears thin in shopping
situations and I take small moments of joy where I can these days.
Anyway - the
queues for the checkout were long today. I waited in line with my near empty
trolley of bread, milk, cereal and fruits. Behind me in the queue was a
Singaporean couple with a near full trolley of their own. I noticed that they
had four boxes of essence of chicken in their supplies. I have seen this
essence of chicken before in Singapore - and in fact years ago mistakenly
bought some thinking it was chicken stock. Chicken stock it is not! It is a
rather vile liquid substance that is very expensive. It costs about $50 for a
small bottle in fact and it tastes nothing like chicken at all.
The line ahead
of us was moving slowly. The Singaporeans are generally reluctant users of cash
and swiping their debit and reward cards and presenting their discount coupons
takes time. I didn't mind. I was in no hurry. I thought I would pass the time
chatting to the Singaporean shoppers.
The
conversation went something like this:
"Hello"
I smiled.
"That's
a lot of essence of chicken you have there"
I received an
insipid smile back.
"Yes" said the man.
The woman said
nothing.
"Pardon
me asking" I enquired,
"But
for what do you use this essence of chicken?"
"For
stress" the man replied
"It
gives you stress?" I asked
I received a
blank stare in reply. I am used to empty stares in this country and was not
deterred.
"How
many chickens do you think are in each bottle?" I said.
The man looked
puzzled and the woman looked alarmed. Neither replied.
I picked up
one of their boxes and read the label. They both now looked panicked.
It says here
that "Use Essence of Chicken daily to
help you be at your best to face the daily demands of life, and to live life to
the fullest".
The man nodded
grimly. The woman looked like she was about to cry.
"I
would think that the essence of at least 50 chickens must be in each
bottle" I suggested. I was enjoying myself now.
I received
more grim and empty looks.
"Essence
implies that the souls of the chickens must also be captured in this product
too?"
I suggested.
"What
do you think?"
There was no
verbal response or reaction from either of them but in a sudden flash of
movement the silent Singaporean woman snatched the box from my hand and
clutched it to her chest. I suspect that she was aching to rip open the bottle
and take an almighty swig to relieve her anxiety. I believe that she is an
essence of chicken addict.
Perhaps
they both are.
Lol! You must have traumatized them with the chicken 'souls' part. :)
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