"At least we can afford the real stuff..."

My boyfriend and his family live right outside of Queens in New York City. This past weekend, my best friend and I decided to take a trip to see him and go the city on Saturday. Some of the most common things in New York are the replica watch and handbag stands scattered along the streets. They're just as much a part of the city as the Empire State Building and Times Square. My friend, my boyfriend's mom and I stopped at one of these stands and decided to take a look. None of us are able to afford a real designer bag, but it's fun to have one that looks like it. I had pick up a fake Coach bag right as a few young girls, no older then 17, walked by. One laughed, and I turned as she grabbed my attention. As I turned around her, I heard her say to her friends "I'm so glad my family can afford the real stuff! I wouldn't be caught dead with a fake purse on my arm!" The other girls giggled and nodded, and the 4 walked on. I was at first severely offended. Many New Yorkers say that too much judgment is placed upon them because of the way the act and live, but here is one doing exactly that to me, and the other people at the purse stand. I turned to my boyfriend's mother, and we both just started to laugh. We made our purchases and walked on.

I'm in no way saying that I think this is how all New York teenagers act, but they way these 4 carried and presented themselves shocked me. Of course, not all New York City teenagers would be so bold, but they way the cackled as they walked on was just offensive. There are numerous websites where you can literally borrow a purse like a movie or a library book at sites such as http://www.bagborroworsteal.com/ it’s impossible to assume that anyone is carrying the “real thing.” As I said in my last post, it is actions of these girls that I hope to gain an understanding for by the end of my cross-cultural encounter.

Image Source: http://www.worldofstock.com/slides/BCO1869.jpg