Special Edition: Celebration One Month Oct 2004 - Holey Jeans

My roommate got a hole in the knee of her jeans a few days ago.  This everyday event would normally spell a trip to the mall to buy a new pair (an expensive fix to a small problem).  But the street across from my apartment is lined with little shops.  Some are restaurants with only three tables, others are corner stores with everything from Coke-a-Cola to clothes hangers and school notebooks.  There are fruit stands that sell grapes and melons, and the shoe shiners that can repair, fix and make you footwear better than they day you about it.  There are video stores that blast their music so loud that your head aches just walking by and a hair dresser who hanger her freshly washed towels on a clothesline that runs to the street light.  Finally there is a seamstress shop.  The woman can easily mend, or sew any piece of clothing as good as new.  In less than a day and for only two kuai (about 20cents) my roommates jeans had been repaired.  Instead of throwing her jeans away they have new life and will last her a few more months.