the supermarket story

In thinking about readjusting to America in just a few months I’m always curious as to how different people respond to returning home after having been away for so long.  PC warns that sometimes readjusting to America is, in some ways, more difficult than adjusting to your placement. In joining PC, one expects things to be different wherever they are. One doesn’t usually expect to have trouble adjusting to what is or (at least used to be) familiar. 

In talking with RPCVs (Returned Peace Corps Volunteers; PCV “alumni,” if you will) or even chatting with current volunteers who have taken a brief vacation home, I’ve found time and time again the same story that expresses their cultural “shock” in the U.S.: the supermarket. Maybe it isn’t always the supermarket, perhaps it’s a Target or Walmart—but really any big retail store.  It overwhelms us to a great degree because it’s probably safe to say that any PC country lacks a consumer heaven/nightmare (take your pick).

The story usually plays out like this: the volunteer is with family/friends and is doing what is thought to be normal behavior among Americans, goes into a regular supermarket/Target/Walmart and reaction ensues. The site is overwhelming because of a few factors: the largeness of the store, the amount of people in the space and probably most of all, the vast number of options available to them.  Some are sickened by the idea of so much consumption after having seen people living on so little; some are just in awe of being able to easily choose little pleasures like granola bars or salad dressing again after having been deprived for so long; and some panic as if the walls are closing in and abscond the store gasping for air.  I kid you not.

On a recent out of the country trip I had the pleasure of meeting my mother in quite a lovely city.  While there were no Targets, Best Buys or Bed, Bath & Beyonds, I constantly found myself wandering into the small supermarkets purely to view all that was there.  Packaged goods that are so common to most people were a friendly site to see.  Oreos? Cheerios? Peanut Butter? And so many vegetables I used to take for granted but hadn’t laid eyes on in months: Mangos?! Cauliflower?! Sweet Potatoes!? Broccoli!!!!! Lettuce! (seriously!)

Balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, heck-even spices like oregano and thyme or paprika were all in my reach.  I longed to take it all back with me. Even if I didn’t necessarily need Oreos it was just a nice thought to think how easy it would be to light up another volunteer’s day.

That’s not to say that the capital here doesn’t carry some of these items. But a volunteer has to pay a hefty price and decide if they really want to spend a small fortune on that bottle maple syrup, brown sugar or popcorn or use that money for a few days worth of local food at their site. 

My town is quite small so most of these things don’t make it out to us.  Some fresh fruits and vegetable that are imported can be found in other regions (avocados, zucchini & asparagus) but I’ve only just seen milk begin to pop up in stores around here.  Canned food is always expensive—most people don’t even have a can opener.  Beans are bought dried and must be soaked before cooking.  A fresh salad with vinaigrette?  Forget it.  Salad here is doused in mayonnaise or sour cream.   Recently I had been looking for cinnamon and a several shop owners hand me caraway seeds or cloves indicating they don’t know what cinnamon is. 

Perhaps we’ll be come more grateful for the options available once we come home. Perhaps we’ll change our diets completely or revert to eating out every single day for a month until we accept that fact that these restaurants aren’t going anywhere.  Me?  I’m sure I’ll overdo it on the sushi, overspend at Whole Foods, buy out all their cheese and be sure to cook up a storm of international food and force my family to eat it for the first weeks of my return.  But I’m also enjoying learning how to prepare more things from scratch, work with what I have and eat more fresh foods instead of pre-packaged and frozen convenience foods Americans are famous for.  That being said…there’s always room for some Samoa’s now and then.