I feel like a giant

I've never thought of myself as big. I feel average. I am 42, 5'6" and 130lbs (no, I am not shy about my age or weight, haha.) However, I have had big feet since 6th grade.  And like my ears, I have grown into them, thank God. When I was a child, the kids would call me "Dumbo" because my ears stuck out quite a bit. When it was time to buy new shoes for school, Mom would have to take me to the boys department. No pretty sandals for me, my shoes were from the men's department at Kenney's. I looked like I was wearing flippers for snorkeling. Often I would trip over my own feet!

Now, I had forgotten most of this, until I tried to buy some sandals here in Vietnam. I was on a trip with the VNSF when we went to a market one night. I saw a shoe store and figured I could find a nice pair of inexpensive sandals. 3 of us walked arm in arm down the main rd to the store, speaking broken English/Vietnamese. Walking into the store was like stepping into shoe heaven. So many lovely pairs, all sorts of styles and colors, I wanted to try on every one. I am limited on cash, so I sorted through to find a nice Mary Jane style, my favorite. The sizes run differently. This says 37 and it looks very small. I ask for a larger one. They bring me a 39, still too small. I ask for a larger one...........then I see it........a look.........from the store clerk...........she is looking at me like I am one of the attractions from a circus.............the "Girl With Big Feet"...............honestly, she stood there and stared at my feet! Looking at the feet of the other women, yes, my God, my feet are HUGE. I asked for the biggest size they had in any style and yet, even those were too small. The only pair that fit were the Teva Velcro kind that really made my feet look like a mans. I couldn't bring myself to purchase them. I wasn't in need of a pair, I was looking for a pair as a treat. I have been wearing the same flip flops every day now for over a month, and these were pretty worn out before I got to Vietnam. We left that shop and ventured to another. There was a Men's Shoestore that I walked into and the girls started laughing at me as if I didn't know it was a MAN's shoestore. I said I knew, I was just looking for a size that fit me. Then all the memories of my childhood came back to me, such large manly feet at such a young age...........big feet and not a sign of needing a bra until my second year of high school, oh yeah, I was a tomboy through and through. Within a few minutes the van was ready to go back to our hotel. No shoes for me tonight. The real funny thing is that a woman on the van insisted I go to the Russian Market since I have "very large feet." I imagined a lot of women there walking around with large feet and feeling a bond, haha

I went on another occasion with my friend Anna to find some clothes for myself. I have brought enough clothes with me, but a lot of my tops are sleeveless. And shorts are out of the question in my position. I am a teacher to Sisters and Brothers, and covering up is important. Shorts and tank tops are out of the question. Wearing a dress or skirt is hard because I often ride as a passenger on the motor bikes............if you know what I mean. I do see women riding side saddle wearing a dress but I haven't gotten up enough courage to try that, plus most of the women riding that way are pregnant. I hang on for dear life on these motor bikes, I can't imagine riding sideways, I'll sound like a siren, screaming the whole way. Anyways, Anna was kind enough to take me into the city to some markets. We took the bus to get there.....an interesting experience in itself. When it's time to get off, get off, or else the door will close, the bus hardly even stops when you are getting off, it is honestly still rolling!

We got to the first market, I was promised cheap prices and lots of choices. It is inside a building with different entrances. The "shops" are small open areas with clothes hanging and folded in semi neat piles. It's not like a mall. The shops are also on top of each other. And the clerk will hover over you while pulling out blouses, holding them next to you, trying to convince you that this is what you are looking for. And trust me, some of them are God-awful. After a few places, I found a blouse that I liked. Anna asked,  "Bao Nhieu?" (How much?)..............the clerk looked at her, then at me..............."For who??" the clerk asked. Wow, is that legal?? Anna is from the Philippines, long dark hair, beautiful skin, etc. I am a white tall girl presumably a  tourist............which means..........I presumably have money. Anna tried to talk her down, but the girl was firm. When we added a few other tops to purchase, she came down a little with the price. Then Anna taught me something..........make sure you look over the tops carefully. This one had definitely been sitting in the sun....on a dirty road...........the other one had coffee stains on it.........etc. We asked for new ones, which they do keep handy, but of course even those has stains. So onward we went. Searching for at least one top. We ended up at a few different markets in the same area. I had to laugh because it was so hot and muggy, I found a top that I liked so I wanted to try it on. It was size large and it still looked small. Anna asked if I could try it on. I was looking for the changing room when all of a sudden the clerk took a sheet and hung it on the wall in a corner. Okaaaay...........this will be interesting. The shop itself is smaller than a closet and now I am changing in the corner, with people trying to look at the clothes behind me.............AND, I am much taller than most here, so the sheet is hung way too low to cover me............I had to squat to have any privacy and even then, my head was still visible. The top I was wearing was stuck to me like wet swim trunks because of the heat. I am bumping into the wall of clothes behind me, I am giggling to myself, I truly feel like a giant in a small persons world. Then I couldn't believe it...one....size LG and XL were too small for me...and two....a woman opened the curtain and started taking off her top right next to me, our bodies so sticky and now, touching each other...........I honestly started laughing out loud! "Well, hello there, do i know you??" I said, knowing she had no idea what I was saying. I struggled to put my blouse back on, wiped the sweat from my forehead and moved on, starting to realize shopping for clothes here is no easy task.

I asked Anna to take me back to the grocery store to be able to purchase a few things to bring back to the house. There I found some Tommy Hilfiger polo style shirts, men and women sizes. The XL in womans size is okay for me. And they were only a few bucks so I bought a couple. Got the same feeling as shopping at the Ocean State Job Lot for clothes.

Now I was happy to wear the new shirt on Monday.........until I heard.........."is that a new shirt Kathy? You are starting to look more and more like a Nun"..............................Anna!!!..............Please help meeeeee............maybe they have something for me at the Russian Market!!