Farmers Market

Lately I have been taking the kids to the farmers market on Saturday mornings at the Amherst Common. I love getting fresh Chinese vegetables from the only one stall there, all the way at the end of the market line, while Sophia enjoys getting her banana chocolate chip popsicle from the little stand as a treat. Jun Jun usually sits nicely (most of the time) in his stroller, totally engaged in watching people, kids, dogs, and everything surrounding him. 

Something about being able to walk and browse fresh produce, be it vegetables, flowers, fruits, bread, etc. in an open air setting, is just so relaxing and refreshing. I must be remembering the daily practice of going to market streets when growing up in Hong Kong, except that the environment here for the market is much better than the urban city, the concrete jungle. Something about being able to connect with people face to face while browsing the produce, purchasing, and dialoguing is so important to the health of a human soul. 

I came to the Chinese stall and was glad to see that they have baby bok choy and Chinese chives.

"Fei Fei, can you say A Ye Ni Hao?" I asked Sophia to greet the saleslady at the stall ( the phrase means "hello auntee", for Chinese children are supposed to address all grown ups either auntee or uncle, whether they're related to the family or not).

"A Ye Ni Hao." Fei Fei greeted her confidently. She did not seem to resist speaking Chinese, which has been occurring lately, often with complaints like "I only know a little bit of Chinese", or "I just like to speak Spanish and English". I have tried not to force her to speak it, but with every opportunity I have for her to interact with Chinese people here I would subtly encourage her to do so, even though it means holding my breath inside and anticipating my daughter resisting the initiation from the mother.

The Chinese saleslady responded with a broad smile, impressed that she can speak Chinese. She went on to tell us her name, and Sophia told her her name in Chinese as well (this time not Cinderella, but Luo Xue Fei). It was all very natural, almost like she forgot that she was speaking in Chinese with a stranger, but just speaking it like she has always known it.

"Fei Fei, look what good Chinese you spoke! Let's go get a popsicle for a treat!" I was quietly cheering a hurray in my heart--for her and for myself.

Later we also got a couple slices of pizza to munch on under the big trees at the common. The cool breeze kept the kids happy. We played a game of hide-and-seek behind the tree trunks, and then it was time to head home. I am glad to come to the market at the Common as another place to go with the kids. This used to be my favorite place when I was in college living in Amherst, and I feel that it has returned to my life again. And even better, now we have popsicles for treats and games to play afterwards.