Fen Johnsa

My wallet is exploding. Not because it is full of the "pink moneys." ** But because it is full of discount cards. I have one for all the grocery stores, one for the cash and carry (that one even has my picture on it.) I've got one for a nail place that I got nearly four years ago when I paid 100 USD for something like 17 pre-paid pedicures or 35 pre-paid manicures (I still have some left). I have one for the Korean bakery that just closed (but curiously was also good not only at the baker, but also at the Korean dry cleaner and the KTV - Korean Karoke Bar.)

My favorite discount card though, is for the German baker inside the Chinese grocery store.

I had applied for the card that gives you VIP status (ie. a modest discount on all goods baked by an authentic German baker.) I applied for the card, but it seemed like it was taking ages to get it! The girls in the bread shop where sympathetic to my cause, and awarded me VIP status, sans card (so that the Johnson's could feast on slightly discounted bretzels, kaisers, whole wheat bread, and long crunchy baguettes baked by a boy with a name like Gunther or Klaus). Finally, after weeks of this process, one of the girl's asked for my mobile phone number to search for my card.

She came back almost immediately with my card. She looked at me sheepishly, and I instantly knew why week after week no one could find a card printed with the name Jen Johnson. The card that matched my mobile number read: Fen Johnsa ... and it is my favorite of them all!

**The "pink moneys" are the pinkish-red bills with Mao's picture in the corner... 100 ren min bi --RMB means the people's money-- is worth about 15 bucks! and that's the biggest bill this cash society has!)