David, 18
I hate going to shops and especially supermarkets. You never know how to find yourself in this crowd of people running in many different directions. I am always loosing my head when I go shopping to one of these malls. And the same happened last weekend – I lost my head. I went window shopping with my 6-year old sister. She spent hours on Saturday morning begging me to walk with her to her favourite toy shop. When we finally got there, after we elbowed our way through the thousands of customers, I saw a sea of little children playing around the huge playground built in this toy shop. My sister soon joined them and I decided to rest for a while on the nearby bench. I must have fallen asleep, as it was very hot inside, and when I woke up I started looking for my sister. To my shock and terror she was not there where I left her! I started running around the place, calling her name and asking some of the children and their parents, if they saw her. Suddenly I heard somebody speaking through the speaker, that one girl is waiting for her big brother at the reception desk. I felt a great relief. It was my little sister.
Ania, 19
I do not mind people talking on the phones on buses or trams, but it really irritates me when they do it in the queues. Especially, when they stand in front of me! Last time I was waiting for my turn at the check out. The lady in front of me was in the middle of the fascinating conversation about her last visit at the hairdresser, when the shop attendant took the heaps of clothes from her and stared counting the prices from the labels. She decided to continue the topic on the phone and at the same time bargain the prices with the shop assistant. I was in a bit of a hurry but I really wanted to buy the present for my fiancé. This dramatic situation made me stay for half an hour at the check out with the struggling lady in front of me and the wild group of furious clients behind. That very evening, while I was staying in another queue at the post office my telephone started to ring impatiently. I answered and tried to finish the conversation quickly, as you are not allowed to speak on mobile at the post office. But immediately I was made to leave by the security and lost my turn!
Robert, 18
My recent visit to the supermarket is probably going to be my last one. I went there with the long shopping list in my pocket. While I was walking miles in searching for huge variety of goods, from eggs to tooth brushes, I felt very hungry. But I was in the middle of the list so leaving the shop now was impossible. I decided to grab one of the packets of crisps from the shelf and I almost swallowed the content without chewing it. I put the empty bag into my basket, as I was going to pay for the crisps at the check out. The basket started to be heavier and heavier, so I left it round the corner. I went on bringing the products when I noticed my favourite cookies on the other shelf. I went there, took the cookies and started eating them. Somehow I found myself near the cashier, so I wanted to pay for the cookies. Suddenly I realised that I left my money in the car parked outside the shop. I ended up walking for the money with security. I also had to come back to the shop and finished filling in the shopping. This time I did it quickly, because I could almost feel the security’s eyes on me.
Improve your vocabulary!
mall – centrum handlowe
window shoppping – oglądanie wystaw sklepowych
toy shop – sklep z zabawkami
elbowed our way through – przepychać się łokciami
customers – klienci
speaker – megafon
reception desk – recepcja
queue – kolejka
check out – kasa
hairdresser – fryzjer
shop attendant/shop assistant – sprzedawca
post office – poczta
shopping list – lista zakupów
basket – koszyk
cashier – kasjer