Rice goes to the grocery store

Where Potato and Rice dwell, there was an old, empty grocery store. It had been empty for years. Recently, however, it was taken over by a well known Asian grocery chain. Rice could not hardly contain herself when she found out that a store for her people was opening up in the neighborhood. So called "Asian" items in a regular grocery store just aren't the same as the real thing. (sorry LaChoy and Chun King)
Real Asian items have to mellow on the shelves of a store that smells like fresh fish. It's supposed to be that way. Really.

Anyway, Rice had to wait about a month to go to the store. Why? Pretty much every Asian citizen within a 50 mile radius went to the store as soon as it opened. All the parking spots were taken. As sad as it is for Rice to admit, her people are well, automobileoperating challenged. People were waiting ten minutes, blocking the thoroughfare, just to get a spot 10 feet closer to the entrance. Not only that, some people couldn't back their Toyota Camrys out of a spot without doing a forty point turn. People were starting to park across the street and walking to the store. And, if some of those people walked across a busy street like they drove, it was a good thing they parked across the street.

Finally, the day had arrived. Rice was able to go to the store. Instantly, the sound of Chinese (Mandarin and Cantonese mostly) filled the air. Rice noticed the rows of cash registers. All the checkout girls and their customers were conversing with amazing speed. Then, was that right? Rice hears English. She quickly scans the area, and 'lo and behold, at the very end of the checkout row was an older Caucasian woman. Perhaps she worked at the store before it was taken over. Interesting, Rice thinks. Then she notices the smell of daikon radish and Napa cabbage in the produce area. The endless variations of tofu. The bizarre snack aisle, including dried squid and cuttlefish and Rice's favorite : preserved plums. (don't mention preserved plums around Potato...you were warned) The store even had a hot and cold deli section. No visit to a Asian grocery store is complete without saying "hi" to all the poor hanging, recently Peking'ed, ducks. And of course, the fresh seafood section. Ah, the large tanks of fish, lobsters and crabs. Don't forget the other fish, sitting on ice right there in front - not behind glass. Pick the one you want, have it wrapped up in paper, and you're on your way!

So, Rice picks up the items she was looking for : cooking wine and some stir fry sauces, a couple of deli items (pork buns and plain steamed buns) and (shhh! Don't tell Potato!) a bag of preserved plums. While wandering around the store, Rice notices that there are a couple of Potato's people in the store, apparently only buying things that came in clear packages, or had labels in English. Rice pays for her groceries and heads out. Just upon exiting, she glances back at the lone Caucasian checker. The only people in her line were indeed the only Caucasians shopping in the store. Coincidence?