Domestic Activities

On Sunday I headed off to that pinnacle of consumerism ….. Tesco. (You thought I was going to write Wal-Mart.) Tesco, a British competitor of Wal-mart, has a superstore in Krakow. Upon arriving one takes a slanted movable walkway up to the first (what we call the second) level. Next, one pays 1 zloty (PLN) for the use of a shopping cart. (Buggy to you Southerners.) Actually, it is a deposit towards returning the cart. All of the carts are lined up and each cart is chained to the next but not to all. You place your 1 zloty coin into a box on the handle and the chain releases freeing your cart to roam up and down the aisles collecting all of those things one cannot live without. Just like back home. The only other things that make Tesco in Poland different than shopping in the States is that none of the packaging is in English and one does not hear moms and dads yelling at their children in the aisles. Well, they could have been chastising their kids, but I do not understand enough Polish to know if they were.

Since I could not read the overhead signs I proceeded to roll up and down the aisles looking for the 15 items on my list. What to my amazement did I see but an employee, clipboard in hand, roller blading past me. Now, that’s another great idea that needs exporting to the U.S. (Note to self ….a potential column is great ideas to export.) While corralling my cart around the store (you see, it had not one but 2 bad wheels) I passed domestics, car tires, electronics, the deli counter, breads, then finished up near the beer / wine / spirits shop by the side door. (Yet another great idea.) I found most of the items on the list (just like at home) and headed towards the check-out area where I had my choice of several unoccupied check out lanes. (Unlike at home.) After paying by credit card I returned my cart, received my deposit and left for the taxi stand.

All in all a good afternoon of …… what am I saying? It was drudgery in the fun city of Krakow. I just wanted to let you know that there is a little bit of domestication in this assignment.