IKEA

Shopping at any IKEA is like being a mouse in a maze. However, if you shop at an IKEA in your own country, you have the privilege of a map, partial understanding, and someone to answer questions. If you do not have the wonderful ability to go to an IKEA in your own country, chaos ensues. Going to IKEA in another country is like going through a maze, while being eternally spun around. Today I met the latter.

First of all, it takes approximately 50 minutes to actually get to the IKEA store, so walking in the door was an accomplishment in itself. I grabbed a shopping bag and headed upstairs to try to figure out where the dishes, pots & pans, etc. were. Following the arrows closely I wandered around the entire floor. Couches to offices to kitchens to bedrooms to kids' rooms back to where I started. Hmm....where on earth do they keep the dishes?! I stopped a couple of workers walking by.

"anglický? " I asked. Luckily one of them spoke a little, so I asked where the kitchenware, pots, pans, etc. were. I'm pretty sure the man had no idea what I was talking about, because he said that if I followed the arrows I would make it there....so I walked through the entire floor again. I tried to ask someone else if they spoke English, but she responded with a somewhat disgusted "ne." I was so confused and frustrated because I was all the way out there and could not find what I was looking for and had no idea how to fix my problem. After walking through the upstairs two and a half times, I decided to call it quits and head for the door. When I descended the steps, relief swept over me. Dishes. Plates, cups, bowls! Of all shapes and sizes! I made it. Praise you Lord! I kicked into bargain shopper mode and got down to business. Mission accomplished.