I Talk Pretty (Chinese) Somdeday

I'm amazed to be saying this, but the truth is I'm beginning to be able to communicate in Chinese a little bit. Today, for example, I said, Wo jiao, Susan. Ni jiao shenme? “My name is Susan. What's your name?” And I can easily say “Good Morning,” Zaoshanghao, every day when I get to school. But after work today I was actually able to exchange thoughts, three times! There is a fellow who parks outside the school every couple weeks and sells big plants potted in beautiful planters. I asked him, Zheige duoshao qian. "How much does this one cost." It was 120 kwai, about $17, and I'm sure I could have bought it for much less, but I wasn't ready to buy a plant today. Before I knew it he was pointed to another plant. I heard him say liang ge and from somewhere in the recesses of my brain I realized he was telling me I should “buy two"--probably get a better price. Wo bu yao mai NOW. I told him. "I don't want to buy now." not knowing the word for now was frustrating. Zaijian, I said. “Good-bye”.
But right in front of me sat a red Jeep Cherokee Sport, exactly like my little jeep back home, minus all the rust and holding together much better. In the Jeep sat a man who was busily working figures on a calculator. I couldn't resist this opportunity, so I stepped up to the jeep and tapped on its side. Wo you RED Jeep IN Meiguo. “I have a red jeep in the United States.” I said. He looked up at me and asked, Ni Maiguoren,ma? “You are American? " Dwei, I responded. And then, using my new vocabulary from Wednesday night, I added, Wo xi huan Jeeps. “I like Jeeps,” beaming and feeling a lot like I wanted to hug the Jeep. This brought a similar response from my new friend, Wo xi huan Jeep blah blah blah. . . I don't know what else he said, but it was evident we both shared an afinity for Jeeps. The Jeep in this picture is not the same one I saw today; it's newer and shinier. I took the picture in the same general location a few weeks ago.