9/13/10 Ladder Sales

My usual morning routine here has been to get up before Space and Iris, make a pot of coffee and catch up on this journal.  Today’s routine was interrupted by yet another Taiwanese “What The Fuck” moment, and the best part is that I didn’t even have to leave the house to have it.

I heard the sound of a woman’s voice over a loudspeaker outside.  Now, Space’s house is a little isolated, so the sound of a woman’s voice, a traveling saleswoman, outside came as a bit of a surprise.  Even more surprising was that the woman driving the truck was selling aluminum ladders.  As strange as all this sounds, this wasn’t my “What The Fuck” moment, that came when Space bought a ladder.  Damn.  This saleswoman was good!

In Canada, door to door sales is viewed with suspicion; like a polite form of robbery.  You would never consider buying an item such as a ladder from an old woman in a little blue truck (note: all work trucks in Taiwan are blue… yes, all of them!).  Yet, that is exactly what was happening.  Since many people travel by scooter or motorcycle exclusively, buying large/odd items from a truck driving through your neighbourhood is a common occurrence.

A “What The Fuck” moment to be sure, and a sure indication that although Space retains his Canadian citizenship, he’s really Taiwanese in many respects.  If he ever moves back to Canada I hope he doesn’t need a ladder.  And if he thinks he can get one by waiting by the front door, he’ll be waiting for a very long time.