I find shopping for clothes in Bangkok rather damaging to my ego. Having been an XS /S (and post baby, an M) back home in India, it feels terrible to be rummaging in the XL bin over here.
And it doesn't help that the dainty Thai women floating around the store - even the ones pushing their chubby babies in strollers - all look like they would be barely visible in profile.
The sizes are not always standard, which means I have to ask what my size would be, suffer the salesperson's appraising up-down look, and then hear the dreaded 'L' word. So today, when I did the usual 'what-size-would-a-waist-30-be' mumble, I was pleasantly surprised to hear the shop assistant recommend an 'M'.
I had about 5 seconds to rejoice before I heard a second shop assistant correct the first one in Thai, "Mai dai! Sophohk yai maak!" Having recently completed a lesson on parts of the body in Thai, I was unfortunately quite able to understand what she had said:
"No way! Her hips are too big!"
She was probably right too, but that was about all my self-esteem could handle for the day, so me and my too-big hips hightailed it out of the store (pausing only for some comfort in the form of a sugar doughnut - what the hell, the hips have been already labelled XL!)
On the way home I stopped off at a frame shop to pick up some stuff I had ordered. While waiting for the frames to be wrapped, I chatted with the friendly shop owner and the conversation came around to children.
I was shocked when she told me she had a 25 year old son, since she hardly looked 35. I said as much and she gleefully informed me that she was 46 and had married young. She then asked about me. I told her I had a 14 month old daughter to which she responded cheerfully, "Oh, so small? You marry very late, eh?"
Hummph! Apparently, I have bigger things to worry about than my waist size preceding me into the 30s. So if you'll excuse me, I have to go polish off that tub of ice cream that I have unnecessarily been resisting this past week.
19 comments:
Aaaawwww.... Poor baby! I feel for you da... :-( If it's any consolation, I've put on more weight since you last saw me... :-))
But on the other hand, the evil me is glad.... Finally... finally, I don't have to feel bad about being the only plump one.... :-)))
I guess I can sympathise with myself hearing your story! And do I feel glad I'm in India where my size is looked at as a sense of pride after having given birth to a child. :D
But its true..I was also getting conscious of my heavier weight post birth (3 years post birth) but being a food freak..I tried to stop myself from indulging but couldn't go on with it for too long. I love food way too much to give it up!
So keep enjoying those chocolate bars, those extra helpings of food and desserts!
ROTFL ! That was very funny. I know you don't find that very funny, but it was a very cute post ! Thanks for making my day:)
Very funny! :)
Move to the US girl - you will always feel good about your petite size! :))
:-)))))))))))))
could not help but laugh. But yeah, it sure hurts the ego ....
No wonder then that the wise saying goes "Ignorance is Bliss"
You are funny :) I am laughing away :) Ok both points apply to me , people have been polite so far or maybe I didn't understand what they said ;-)
LOL!
You shd move to the US ...you shift frm being an XS in the US to a M in India !!
Can sooo empathize with you.
Tony - Hmm, it might be some consolation. Send me a picture of your newly fat self, I will do a comparison and see if it makes me feel better!
NM - Thank you! To think of all the cheesecake I could've eaten, but didn't! Sigh.
Poppins - Ah, making people's day with a comic account of my tragic life... that makes me feel better about myself! :-)
Noon, Anon - That's an idea! Or even better, I'll buy my wardrobe there and proudly display my XS label back here! Now all I need is for you to tell me how to persuade Hubs to fork out for that.
Gauri, Sandeepa - I don't usually regret being so multi-lingual, but this was certainly one occasion where I would've been better off not knowing what was being said!
Sims - That's right, laugh while you're thin, baby! :-)
Mystic - welcome to Moppet's world, and thanks for the empathy!
ha ha ha grinned at the thought of you stalking away from the shop in a huff, was laughing helplessly in my chair at the second comment. How rude! Poor us mothers! What a lot we have to put up with!
Love your sense of humour... and loved this post
LOL!! You are so cute!! ANd Funny!!!
Since you've been to the other blog, you know the situation this side...I long to go into a shop and have the salesperson tell me they have something in my size...
:) with you on it. I have been hiding behind kurtas since J. I didn't even dare attempt to buy any trousers yet (stretchable jeans working quite ok).
Enjoyed your post and a BIG 'Same here' :)
we dont discuss weight in the house... to keep peace. * pursed lips *
JLT: Don't we? Is there some society for prevention of rude remarks to mothers that we can join?
Trishna: Aww, thanks! That's nice for my self-esteem :-)
Kiran: Well, if you say so, but methinks you are just being modest about the true extent of your fabulousness!
Sunita: Yeah, the kurta and jeans / capris. It's become the mommy uniform!
CoS: Thanks!
MM: It's a good rule. Now if only we can enforce it in the rest of the world!
Moppets Mom: Ha Ha, true extent of your fabulousness????? I told you the only thing that fits now is the burkha...
That is hilarious... I always wonder what people are saying about me when they converse in a different tongue. Like going to get a manicure/pedicure the techs are always korean/chinese and always giggling and laughing about something. I feel your post-baby weight depression though... it's been 10 months since mine was born and I refuse to buy a size 6, I'll just keep wearing the 4's that don't look the best, until I lose the weight, or even better get pregnant again!
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