Or in other words, “that will be four dollars, please”.

Some people are coming to view our apartment this evening. I’m learning to recognise the phrase “Do we have to remove our shoes?” because that seems to be the first thing you’re asked when people are about to come inside. And when I get asked that question, of course my response is going to be “Yes!”. I need to remember that even if in the panic of the moment, I fail to recognise the phrase. I don’t want dirty boots trampling all over my birch laminate.

But that goes against all my instincts, for all you know the potential lessee might be asking “Do all these furniture come with the apartment?” or “Can you move out tomorrow?”

In Hong Kong, when in doubt as to what I’m asked, I usually say No. That’s because people everywhere ask you all sorts of questions all the time, where a ‘Yes’ response would probably set you back several dollars. This happens at the supermarket (“How about buying the weekly special?”), the pharmacy (“This new shampoo is on offer, shall I ring one up for you?”) and restaurants (“Catch of the day, very fresh!”).

Once however I said No when I should have said Yes. I must have been dreaming at that time and not paying attention to what the cashier was saying at the supermarket checkout counter. I usually bring my own bag, and apparently was still clutching on to it tightly after I’d loaded all the goods onto the conveyor belt, and the cashier asked me twice, do you want to use your own bag?

I ended up looking like a right idiot with two supermarket plastic bags and an empty canvas bag.