She did not just do that........

I thought I was all culture shocked-out until yesterday and again today. Now, I think I mentioned that the women in boutiques can look at you and judge your size, and sometimes they measure your waist with their hands. If they don't have your size in stock (read: anything over a Chinese "medium", which is an American "XS" in most boutiques - if you're lucky you'll get an American "M" labeled "XL") they shoo you away. Ok, sometimes they do give you an apologetic look.

So I went shopping for underwear, and expected the same thing. But apparently the women in Nanjing must like their ..... shall I say prosthetics?.... so the store assistant proceeded to... you won't believe it... thoroughly grope me to find out my "real" size! I kid you not! It was so quick and so unexpected that I didn't have time to faint. :D

Naturally I scrambled off to the changing room, which thankfully had a lock. So she bangs on the door and my friend tells me she's trying to get my attention. I opened the door (clearly I didn't learn my lesson) and she tried to come in to "adjust" me. No, thank you, Miss, I'll pass on shopping today.

Unfortunately, I like giving the benefit of the doubt, and I went to another boutique today. Same thing. The assistant had a measuring tape, so I felt "safe" but alas, she too was a groper. I must conclude that this is the way they do things here - and I'm staying far away from those boutiques!