The handbag incident.

The other day I went to the shops to clear my head. There's something very liberating about looking at different types of pasta and rice and wondering what to have for dinner. While I was at the shopping centre I decided to go and see if they had any clothes I could purchase.

I found a groovy looking t-shirt and decided to get it. I paid the man at the counter. and he put my receipt on top of my t-shirt and went to get me a bag - but I stopped him and said:

'Actually, it's ok. I don't need a bag - I can put it here in my handbag.' Then I pointed accordingly to said handbag.

Well this statement had a bizzare effect on the man. He gave me a questioning look and finished up with my payement. I thought it was strange that he reacted the way he did - but I'm used to people looking at me and trying to figure out where I'm from since they recognise that my Norwegian is a little bit off sometimes - so I thought nothing of it.......

......Until I realised that I actually didn't have my bag with me at the time and had essentially pointed at nothing. It is so embarrassing to then pick up your item, that you've stated you have a home for, and to have to carry your t-shirt out of the shop with your thumb holding the receipt in-case it falls off and walk off holding said item in a casual way. Very VERY humiliating.

I am still too embarrased to go back to the shop. I have also been mocked by spouse and sibling, who suggested that I could have said: 'No it's ok I don't need a bag - my invisable dog Fifi will carry it in it's mouth.'

I just don't understand myself sometimes. I think I'm in a little world of my own. There's someting about weekday afternoons that put me in confused mode. I generally can't be trusted with people who work at the till anyway. I find the whole payment and bag concept quite scary over here - because I never really know what to say. Most people can hear that I'm a foreigner and try to figure me out. Other times they find me odd because I wish to have a conversation when I'm paying - allthough obviously not an overly familiar one.

What is the answer to this till issue? I could of course just not speak and try to mumble myself through the whole experience, but it's still scary. I'd be grateful for some practical advice. I'm also parcial to sympathy - so feel free.