Super Walmart. I’ve only been in there once since returning and I had to get out pretty quickly. I’m spending this summer with two young guys (11 and 13) who are a lot of fun. (I just hang out with them during the day, trying to keep them excited about not playing video games. So far, so good.) Anyway, one afternoon we went to Super Walmart to get some ingredients for a chemistry set. The store is HUGE! Everything is in the same store, from fresh produce to camping equipment. Everything is packaged, from plums to sliced carrots and celery (with dip, of course.) And there are thousands of people in the aisles, talking, asking questions, frustrated, yelling at children. Luckily, the boys were with me and I couldn’t freak out too much.
Before going to Turkey, I went to Walmart a lot. I never really thought of it as a weird place. I would get things for my house, get my eyes checked, buy groceries and clothes. How convenient! I guess that besides the screaming children, the thing that bothers me now is that it’s too convenient.
I’m thinking of a typical shopping list for a typical Super Walmart shopper.
- Dinner
- Pharmacy pick-up
- Socks
- Windshield wipers
- Football
- Bathing suit
- Fabric
- Movie
Normal right? And I’m thinking of what each of these would entail for me in Adana.
- Trip to grocery store
- Trip to eczane (pharmacy)
- Trip to Galleria bazaar (only open on Saturday)
- Trip to a car parts shop
- Trip to a nice sports shop
- Trip to find someplace where they sell swimming suits
- Trip to çarşı (crowded shopping area)
- Stop at a street vendor in between all the trips
I realize this is a bit far-fetched, but I can imagine a time when I have eight things on my Super Walmart shopping list that would take trips to eight different places in Turkey. Now the question in my mind is Which of these is better? Should I be so disgusted that Super Walmart is too convenient?
What a question: Can something be too convenient? I think that perhaps the question should be, “What is one willing to sacrifice for convenience?” Let me give you an example.
Last winter I was planning my annual ice fishing trip with some old friends. We have done this trip for over 25 years. We planned to leave Sat. and return home on Mon. I wasn’t ready and things were slow at work so I also took Friday off. I had lots to do. I had to get fishing gear in order. I had to buy food. I had to pack video’s and dvd’s to watch. I had to take the small TV from our bedroom to take to the fishhouse. I had to get cooking equipment together. I had to get change at the Credit Union for Poker. On top of it all, on Thurs. evening the facuet on our kitchen sink broke and I had to replace it on Fri. morning.
So, my day on Fri. went something like this. I wnet to the local Ace Hardware store to buy the things to fix the faceut. My man Kevin fixed me up with the things I needed and lent me some special tools to do the job. His comment, as usual, was, “Take all this stuff. Who knows what you will need. What you don’t use bring back and then I’ll charge you with what you used. Oh, by the way, you’ll want to borrow this wrench. It’ll make the job much easier.” I went home, fixed the sink and returned the things I didn’t use.
I wnet to the Credit Union anf got my Quarters and dimes for the poker game. I talked with employees and of course with my dear wife who works there.
I went to the local Grocery Store. Bought my groceries and visited with friends who shop and work there.
I went to Jerry’s Bait to get what fishing gear I needed. Of course I had some great conversation there.
It seems there was another stop in there but I can’t remember it. Super Walmart is convenient once you are there. (I would have had to drive 30 miles to the nearest Walmart, but I still wouldn’t have changed my shopping this day if I had to drive 3 blocks.) All of what I bought could have been purchaced at Walmart. Why then wouldn’t I go there if it were closer? Two reasons:
1.I would not have gotten the help from the employees that I recieved at the local stores.
2.I would not have enjoyed conversations with friends and aquintiances(SP).
When Sheryl and I were in Adana on 2006, we were amazed by how friendly people were. We would walk past a small market by Jake’s apartment and the owner would yell, “Jake’s dad” and wave to us. Sheryl and I also shopped on day at Migro’s, a supermarket. We didn’t feel people were unfriendly, but it was much like a store in a large city in America. Even in Adana, I preferred the small market.
I, for one, am not willing to give up service and friendship for what some call convenience and cheaper prices. I wouldn’t say that Walmart is too convenient, I just think their “convenience” costs too much.
By: Jack, Laura's Dad on July 8, 2007
at 7:15 pm
hey Laura!where are you?
do u forget us??
By: Ersin on August 14, 2007
at 11:31 am