"Want a bag, ma'am?"

But, here, in Russia, there is no selling of dim-sum and steamed bun. Well…um…that's okay.

However, there is still a word that you will hear instead of dim-sum and steamed bun whenever you go to pay money at the grocery shop.

It is: "Want a bag, sir/ ma'am?'

And if you say "yes", it means you'll be charged.

I really don't understand why do they have to be so stingy about the bag. But, to think in another angle, this would make people see the value of a bag.

But one thing for sure here is that ... one piece of bag costs at least 1.50 rouble (Bt 2.25). Or you can pay more money for a better quality of bag.

When I first arrived here and didn't know much about this place, every time I entered a shop, I said 'yes' and received a bag … (and had to pay for it.)

With more experience now, every time I go out for shop?ping, I always carry a bag along. Whenever a shopkeeper asks me about a bag, I say "No, I've got one already."

Then, I would sweep the things into my bag and save at least three roubles.

By Bussaba Piwkam

St.Petersburg State Pedagogical University, Russia