A Conversation at the Check Out

I am really excited!  I just had a successful conversation with a clerk at the neighborhood grocery store.  I know big deal, right?  But I have gone for over a year without being able to do that.  My French is... how to say it nicely.... below basic.  That's probably giving me more credit than I deserve. 

I don't have any good excuses for why it is not better.  I took two years of French in high school and four semesters in college.  My excuse then was that I would probably never have to use it.  Well, life shot that theory down, didn't it?  After living in France for almost sixteen months I am slowly, slowly, slowly getting better at it. 

Anyways, I went to our local grocery store this afternoon.  It is just a tiny one but has all of the basics.  I was putting my items on the conveyor belt and the cashier was oogling my daughter who was sitting in her stroller.  I didn't catch all of what the lady was saying but I did understand when she asked me what the baby's name was.  I replied which didn't require any French.  She told me that she was beautiful and I came back with the proper thank you in French which is not hard at all.  After the clerk rang up my items I did get a bit confused with the total price.  I heard ten euros something something.  I am still not too sure how many cents I paid.  Thank goodness for debit cards.  You just hand them the card and you don't have to count out specific change.  The lady told me to have a nice day.  I told her, "You as well", which I always seem to mess up but got right this time.  Then au revoir and out the door I went.  It was fabulous!  There is nothing better than understanding what the cashier says.  It made my day.