Just Say It

That seems to be the way to do things here in Singapore.  What do I mean?  Well I will give you some examples that happened to our family just this week.

While browsing in China Town I stopped by a booth to look at some hand painted shirts that were for sale, they were really cool, very "artsy" I loved them. 

The sales lady came out to meet me and talk about the shirts, she said here take this one and held up one that in no way would fit me.  I said "oh, no, I think I am too big for that one, it won't work."  She smiled, walked all the way around me looking at me and then smiled bigger to say " I think it will be OK, your back is flat, it is just the front of you that is fat, this one should work." She then went on to explain to me that people loose weight when they fly so  if I was flying soon I would be skinny enough to wear her shirt.

As an American this is crazy, you would never use as a sales pitch the words fat, or loose weight but here it is just another day.  They just say it. 

Keegan had a lady talk to a little boy while with him this week and the lady said to the little boy, "look someday you will be chubby just like Keegan"

I had a man tell me once that I needed to drink water to loose more weight, just at a hawker center....

As impolite as we think this kind of conversation is, they mean no disrespect to the person they are talking to.  Weight and body size over here is just a simple fact.  Like Caleb said, everyone can see the person it is just that they say it out loud.

Now mind you this kind of conversation could be offensive if we would let it get to us but as a person Scott works with this week told him "you're OK for an American."

We are American and I must add very proud to be American but we are also loved by the King, we are created in God's image and when you choose to listen to that kind of conversation and just go with it, it makes for a better day.

I did buy a shirt by the way, just not the one that was too small, glad to know..... my back is flat..... just saying.