I've been planning to buy a new purse ever since I noticed that my purse was susceptible to purse snatchers (not that I've seen any here!) because the faux-leather had ripped on both sides where the strap connected to the purse. Only a few threads stood between my purse being secure and it being snatchable. I don't really like carrying a purse, but with everything that I have to carry, I have been carrying both a purse and backpack. So I was looking for a purse that could carry my notebooks and handouts for English Club and maybe even my computer, since it's small.
There's a purse store at my bus stop in the tunnel under the road, but almost every time I want to stop, something's come up. The first time, the power in the entire tunnel was out. The next time I realized that I didn't have any cash. Another time I was running late. Today, however, I stopped.
Another lady was in the shop, chatting with the clerk, who looked to be around my age. An older lady came in right after me. After a few minutes, the friend left, the older lady made her purchase and left and I had narrowed my decision down to two purses. The clerk came over and began speaking to me in Bulgarian. I asked her if she knew English (in Bulgarian) and she told me that she knew a little (still in Bulgarian). She began helping me using a mix of about 95% Bulgarian and 5% English.
After I made a decision on the bag, we had a conversation that went something like this, though most of it was in Bulgarian.
"Are you a student?" she asked.
"No, I'm ... a teacher." I replied, pausing as I tried to remember what the difference between the words for student and teacher were in Bulgarian. "An English teacher."
"Ah, teacher." an old lady who had just come in and overheard our conversation commented in accented English. The look on her face was the same as my Bulgarian teacher's when I say something right without prompting.
"Oh, an English teacher. Do you like it here?" The clerk asked.
"Yes." I smiled.
"I think we should get coffee!" She said.
"You want to?" I asked, surprised. Most of the shopkeepers I've talked with haven't been exactly excited to practice English. In fact, we'd been speaking in Bulgarian for this entire conversation!
"Yes!"
"Oh, I have a card." I handed it to her. "I teach at an English Club. One is in Dianabad and one is on Solunska street." I pointed them out to her. "It is free."
Maybe she'll call, email, or find me on Facebook. Maybe she'll come to English Club. Who knows! I do know that God makes my appointments. Sometimes it's not as clear as this, but when I meet with anyone, it is under his direction. He can use even the smallest moment to work in ways that are beyond anything we understand! Sometimes this is the coolest job ever.