aravain -> RE: The Accidental Collar (2/2/2009 11:01:01 PM)
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~FR~ Heh, in this case my 'Dominant' is an entire country... I visited New Zealand with a group as a staff member and we went to a Maori cultural center primarily for tourists and *actual* indigenous peoples. It was purely amazing. There was a shop by the wood-carving display where we could watch them carve in the same methods as tradition. The shop had various types of jewelry, including really beautiful hand-done greenstone and ivory pieces. One really popped out at me and I was entranced by it... it was an ivory necklace for 'unity' strung on a simple black cord with a piece of ivory that fits through a loop to close it. I didn't have enough money for it. I think it was $60 (NZD) or $80... but I only had $20 on me... I talked to the clerk and she said there was no way that she could lower the price, and that part of their livelihood depended on selling them for the amount of money they had them listed. I left the shop, dejected, and ran into the woman who was our guide, earlier, through the grounds and things... and talked to her about it. Not only did she tell her friend that it was ok to lower the price but she paid what parts of it I couldn't pay (almost $30) at the reduced price. Essentially she gave me a 'Maori discount' and then paid however much I couldn't. She said that it was meant for me and she could tell, too. (There's a whole bunch of hocus-pocus involved, for those pagans and/or witches interested in hearing about it, but suffice to say it was clear to me). I wore it every day (usually even in the shower) for almost 2 years. I still have it, but (get this XD) my neck has much more muscle than it used to, so I wear it less often. I feel a definite tie with New Zealand from it, too. I know that, some day, it will be where I end up. It's a symbol of pride for me. It makes me feel like I belong to to them (to sound kinda silly) (not to mention that I looked it up and got it looked at and it is worth almost twice as much that they were actually charging it >.>) Sorry for an answer that's not exactly what you asked for XD Hope you're feeling better.
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