Lost in Translation: the diaper bag edition
Over the course of our five years here in Brazil, there's been countless times where things I tried to convey in my butchered Portuguese became "lost in translation" At the time, the situations drove me nuts, but in hindsight are comical.
A few weeks before I was due with Skylar, I took my old, leather diaper bag to be reconditioned at a bag 'n shoe shop. A little background info: when I had my first kiddo, I purchased
bag from Storksak.
At the time, the $300+ price tag seemed like a major splurge, but now, six years later, I can say the cost-per-use is practically pennies. A great "non-diaper" diaper bag, that I highly recommend.
Mine had seen some serious wear, so I took it to the shop thinking to have it reconditioned. You know, some mink oil or something to blend the water stains, and soften the leather. At least, that what I thought I was saying.
Bells probably should have gone off in my head when I picked up the Portuguese words for "darker" and "paint."
A couple of weeks later, I returned to this:
The nice, leather bag had been....vinylized. It's like they painted it (poorly) with some kind of liquid plastic substance that's the color of a sewer rat. The thing even smells like a vinyl sofa circa '75.
I also must mention how the brass hardware was "touched up" with gold paint.
The picture doesn't do it justice.
Translation: Diaper bag sads.
I think I might just put this one in the donation pile, and call it a day. So...I'm in the market for a new "diaper" bag. I tend to go for styles that transcend the baby look, and can function beyond diapees and wipes. Here's a few I'm considering.
