I’m from NY. I lived the first 17 and a half years of my life there, and never really appreciated just how high my standard of living was, in nearly every regard.
Now, I’m living in Jerusalem, Israel. I’ve been here since September, and won’t be returning to the states until June.
If there’s one thing I really miss about the United States, it’s just how incredibly convenient shopping can be.
See, the U.S. has itself a holy trinity of sorts, concerning their most mainstream of “SuperCenter” stores.
Yes, I am referring to Walmart, Target, and Kmart. The last of which is owned by Sears.
The big three.
See, what makes these stores so great, is that you can get quite literally anything you need, and at normal prices too.
You enter through the magical automatic doors, and gaze upon the field within which you can begin your hunt.
Socks? Got ‘em. Baseball glove? Got that too. New flat screen TV? Please, there’s about thirty on display in the electronics section.
These places make for absolute one-stop shopping. It’s amazing, if you think about it. Such is the convenience of the American consumer’s shopping experience.
These days, living in Israel, I truly miss that convenience. If I want to get anything, there’s no single store to visit. I have to run all over Jerusalem and check each thing off my list.
The closest thing we have to a Kmart here in Jerusalem would have to be the historic Mahane Yehuda Shuk. (Market)
It’s often incredibly crowded, dirty, loud, and often leads to many claustrophobic individuals suffering nervous breakdowns. Much of the Shuk is based around food, but the stands have great variety of wares all the same.
There’s nuts. Fish. A few bars. Judaica stores. Electronic kiosks. Kitchenwares being sold out of a dirty cardboard box by an older gentleman who bears a most striking resemblance to Yasser Arafat.
Target it is not. Need some help finding something? Sorry, there’s no red-polo-shirt wearing individuals to lend you a hand. That’s right, girls. No Alex.
You can ask an IDF soldier though. They’re pretty helpful. One once told me where to get the best deal on jelly beans. He’s clearly doing a fine job serving his country.
But back on track, I really do miss and appreciate the United States’ shopping culture. Sure, there are some weirdos in Walmart and perhaps Kmart runs a few too many sale specials of interest to teen moms, but ultimately, we Americans are awfully privileged to have such stores.
Read other answers by Betzalel Shapiro on Quora:
- What will you do if you become a ghost after your death?
- What's your worst school food experience?
- What's the most embarrassing misconception you've ever held?
from Quora http://ift.tt/2m7jKSB
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