what people say

WHAT PEOPLE SAY, DURING A MARKET DAY

Every market, the whole year through, there are comments, quotes, thoughts and opinions of people that stay
​with you.
This market weekend at the Blue Subur Market in Sitges, I wrote down some of them so I could remember them
correctly and share them in this blog.

"I am here to look for some treasures, I want to buy a REAL treasure"
- Boy of around 9 years old


"So hard to choose, to buy a treasure in your shop or do the face painting, I have to think"
- Girl of around 9 years old         
(As you maybe understand, the word "treasure" is used a lot by kids, not because I tell them the word, this is
obviously how they feel and experience the looking around in the stall. Also do they love things which bring
​good luck)


"I love to come here, everything moves, makes sound, flies and is colorful"
- Girl of around 5-6 years.
(And my reply was "I love to have this shop, for the same reasons")


"I do not meditate with Buddha, I am too busy with things, I have too much in my life"
- Girl of around 7-9 years
(This gives me a smile on my face, every time I think of it. And I try to remember what kind of things I said
at that age. For sure not this.) :-)


"I have the feeling I am in Ibiza, such a happy colors"
-Woman of 60+ years old


"You sell things I have never seen before in my life and I love to hear the stories. I wish I could travel a lot.
Maybe you don't remember, but I come here every month"
-Woman of 65-70 years old
(And of course I did remember her, the older lady who is in front of the stall like a little girl, looking for "treasures")

"Knowing this, makes it even nicer that I buy it........."
-Returning customer from previous Blue Subur Markets, woman 40+
(She bought 2 Mbrace bracelets which support an organisation to help stray dogs in Portugal, hearing this,
she then explained about her own 5 adopted dogs..... lovely lady who comes to buy at every market!)

The whole day I have visits and interaction with Robin, the young little lady, who is my biggest
customer and supporter at every Blue Subur Market.  (bottom left on the first photo of this blog). 
She spends a lot of time checking and buying things and also brings other kids and adults to the stall, explaining
about the products and prices.
Robin you are the best. I could not have a better PR-person at the market. And I enjoy meeting you every
time at the Blue Subur Markets.


And then the little boy, I would say around  9 years old. He came at least 14 times to the stall, to look, check,
stare, touch and ask. He really kept asking, non stop, with a fast working brain   :-)
Why do you have so many Buddha things,  what is this,  where does it come from,  what is it made of,
does it bring luck,  how do you clean it when it is dirty,  does it protect me when I hold it in my hand,
where did you buy it,  why is it green,  I like all the treasures, they are original,  when the crystal comes
off the bracelet does it still protect me,  why do you know so much about everything,  I can buy 2
small things but they have to be cheap because my mother is poor,  will it make me feel safe when
I have this and so on.
Also many questions repeated, but about another item.

He came one time with his mother, because he could not decide what to buy. Then they left and he came
back alone, picked a small green jade Buddha statue and a crystal on a necklace, he put them aside on the
table, left, came back with a hand full of small coins and left with his treasures.
Then after his purchase he returned several times with specific questions about the 2 items.
And just before he left the market with his mother, I saw him coming back - running - and he asked:
"Can I pray with the Buddha and the crystal?"
And I explained to him that they were the best items to pray with!
A special young boy, who needed a lot of information, confirmation, repeating, explaining, who came back
so many times, with all the questions popping up in his little head.
To others he could be annoying, bothering, not spending any money.......to me he is a special kid, with his
own way of thinking and feeling, his own needs. Great to have met him!



This keeps me going with the markets, as it is quite tough, physical, many hours, the weather, all the
impressions during the day of people & sounds, this week not with the best health condition, maybe not the 
busiest market, not the market with the biggest sales, but again a market with:

communication - care - interaction - sharing - giving - helping - informing, smiling, learning

It makes it so worth it. Meeting lovely people, talking to lovely people from different places, different
backgrounds, different interests, different levels..............PEOPLE!

And I want to repeat again.........do not underestimate kids, they bought with their small wallets filled with
some saved coins of pocket money (or by doing small jobs / tasks at home)
And I sold between both days, for around 200 Euros of items from the 1 Euro / 5 Euro SALE box.
​Mainly to children and their parents.

​
(Top photos are from the last weekend, below photo is a collage of encounters the last season)
Photo credit: Lisa Takacs & Sun Sand Salt