Buying Jeans

The day before I left the United States, I went shopping with Trevor. We spent most of the time looking at where the things were made.

Here, it's almost a waste of time to look for the tag. Everything is made in China.

I don't want to buy jeans made in China. Maybe I'm racist. When you've been raised your whole life thinking that the little gold "Made-in-China" stickers equate to practically slave-labor child sweat shops and Walmart disgusting fall-apart-after-first-wash quality clothes, the racist possibility becomes more likely.

The other reason I don't like shopping for jeans here is because all of the stores are owned and run by men. You can't just browse something without talking to someone; no, you have to explain what you want, the size you want, the color you want, have his opinion...I wouldn't dream of walking by myself into the Suq, the Market, but even with my Arabic sisters I feel a little uncomfortable dealing with guys.

All of the stores here are run by men. It's extremely rare to see a female employee. I always buy my phone cards from one specific store, because I deal with the same female employee, and she's very nice to me. I don't know; maybe it's the way the men look at you here. Maybe it's just me going crazy. Maybe a little of both.

The women here don't seem to think much of it.