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| Photo: Dayne Nel |
I have a strange affinity of the USA. I read in Stephen Fry in America, by the actor, journalist and prolific tweeter, Stephen Fry that he said that his other self, called Steve, is an American. He believes that if he was born in any other country than Britain, it would be the U.S.A.
In all honesty, I agree with him. I believe that the other half of me is running around somewhere in the U.S.A, drinking a Big Gulp and watching the Nate Berkus Show.
But, do we really have to create the U.S.A here on home soil?
My father has always proclaimed the amazingness of North America and after my first visit to the U.S, he felt like he had converted me to a new religion.
So, when I visited the U.S of A, I got daily updates from my father about what do. Drink a cheap mojito in Las Vegas, try the clam chowder in San Francisco and visit Universal Studios in L.A.
The messages came like those little strips of bible verses, one a day.
And now, having been to the land of McDonald’s and maple syrup, I see how the culture affecting our own.
Earlier this year I went to Makro at Cape Gate to see what the fuss is about.
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| Photo: Dayne Nel |
Before I go any further, I have something to confess.
I love buying stationary and packaging. Yes, packaging. Anything to pack another thing in: plastic bags, small holders and zipper bags for sandwiches.
Makro is my dream. Like a true American I took one of those large trollies, knowing that with my budget, I would never be able to fill it.
I glided between the isles and isles of glasses and Tupperware and dreamed about the day when the number of highlighters and glitter pens I buy is not limited to the amount of money I have in my account.
But, on my way past the gardening section I saw something that was strangely so, American.
I large man walking barefoot past the dustbins.
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| Photo: Dayne Nel |
I remember my dad’s sermons about big Americans. I recall that before I left he told me: “Thou shalt not eat as much as an American.”
But, I’m not in America now, I’m in South Africa.
The man’s stomach was folding so far over his pants; it seems that it was probably holding up those same pants.
And then it dawned on me that the specials, the fake grass outside, the compulsory membership card and the fat man were all quintessentially American.
It seems that we are so happy to comply with another culture for the sake of a shopping experience.
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| Photo: Dayne Nel |
But, South Africans more than ever need two-for-one specials and coupons. We have so many people living below the breadline that some excess would be great.
We don’t need the overweight man to buy chips in bulk, instead, we need the bulk to be shared.
Let’s leave the American way of buying sugary drinks and fatty foods to the Americans.
Let us head to the fruit isle instead, where nature’s bounty can perhaps be picked by all the citizens in our country.
Let us hope that everyone could know what it feels like to marvel at the humble pencil.
And next time my dad and I reminisce about the good old U.S of A, I should perhaps direct him to Makro. Heaven is only 20 kilometres away.
http://www.news24.com/MyNews24/A-little-USA-not-far-away-20130802
