Nice people.

My time in China has truly changed me to more of a cynic than ever. So when someone tries to lend a helping hand or seems to be nice I am wary. Today when I was out I had two really nice interactions with people, that made me remember that not all people are out to rip me off or insult me as a foreigner....

I was shopping for something I didn't know how to say in Chinese, wire, asking for "iron line" and this guy chatting with the shopkeeper said to me in the most perfect English I've heard here, "Can I help you? you can speak English, it's okay." And although the shopkeeper didn't have it and this guy didn't work there, they helped point me in the right direction. :)

On my way home I wanted to pick up some broccoli for dinner, something that isn't super uncommon, but not at every vegetable stand for sure. So I went to the vegetable stand that's inside the mall where my gym is (yes all three together), because they often have it. I looked around and the clerk looked at me and i asked her then saw one head.

"Oh, only one left?" I said
"yeah, the only one"
a quick look and it looked okay, not rotten, but then she said, "you know, it's kid of old, are you sure you want it?"
and really it was fine, been sitting for a free days yeah but was in my dinner plans for this evening so i said, "I'm eating it tonight, so no problem."
"but look here, it's a little old" pointing out a few discolored buds."
"eh, eating it tonight, don't care."
"well, I'll give it to you for 1 kuai[15 cents]"
normally at this place the veggies are more expensive, and it would have cost me probably 4 or 5 kuai (75ish cents for the same head of broccoli, fresh).
but she was so nice, unwrapped it, pointed out where I'd have to cut around (which really wasn't that much)

So yeah, I like nice people.

and one more, yesterday as I was getting home with dinner in hand my neighbor (old man and family, see the old man all the time, who leaves his door open now that it's summer) asked me if I had food, because they were just sitting down to dinner. I did have food, and he may have just been being polite, but I still appreciated it. :)