I walked in and froze at the abundance.
The shelves towered over my head. The aisles extended half a football field into the store. Endless varieties of products created a hall-of-mirrors effect down the shelves. I’d gone to supermercados in Costa Rica, but they were relatively small. This was different; it was American.
God help me when I step into a Costco.
The place was the Super 99 in David, Panama, a common stopover city to more popular destinations. I was heading to Boquete that morning and just wanted to grab food for the road, not be overwhelmed by capitalism.
This was portrayed well near the end of the movie The Hurt Locker. I can relate, although of course, the main character’s adjustment was much more severe. I’m not exactly sure what the sensation I’m relating to is. Shocked by choice? Stunned by the complexity of a mundane task? Surprised by the sheer volume of stuff, knowing that back home, these are replicated multiple times, town after town?
Maybe it’s good to jaunt through more-developed places before I go back to the States. After six months in Puerto Jimenez, jumping straight back to Chicago would have jarred me like a polar bear swim. I wouldn’t have adjusted well.
Of course, what’s to say that I will? A friend who taught English in Taiwan wrote me, asking “Do you think this is turning into a life change?”
It is, but I don’t know to what extent. I won’t know until I get back. But after being paralyzed in a supermarket, I do know that I’m scared of it.
Kent most recently left his post as an English teacher in Puerto Jimenez, Costa Rica and is currently traveling. To see what he’s up to, check out his blog or follow him on Twitter. For more on adjustment post-experience, check out “Homecoming” by Lizzie LaCroix and “Living a Double Life” by Emily Mew.
Latest posts by kentgreen
- The Centries: Handing Out Awards to Central America - August 9th, 2010
- Sub-juncting Myself to a Test of Generosity - August 4th, 2010
- Nobody (At Least Not Me) Knows the Trouble Guatemala's Seen - August 2nd, 2010
- Oh No, Ojos! (or, Why Gringos Don't Make Eye Contact) - July 28th, 2010
- We Dance If We Want To (so why don't we?) - July 26th, 2010
- Getting Schooled in Spanish Schools - July 21st, 2010
- Guatemala's REAL Danger: Not Wanting to Leave - July 19th, 2010
- Living the High Life (and not even knowing it) - July 14th, 2010
- The Devils of Panama City - July 7th, 2010
- Bye, Bye, Bias - June 30th, 2010
