Thursday, August 20, 2009

Revisiting Paradise

Yesterday, pretty much in its entirety, was spent in the most American of places. I and my Mexican niece and nephew. Or at least, in the place that I first got to know and love when I and my family made the big move to the United States when I was a teenager.

See, Finland was even smaller back then. And more Finnish. Back then we really were all about lakes and Saunas. Today we're far more European and only break out the Sauna and the frozen lake for special occasions.

Like, a Saturday.

So imagine my bewilderment and wonder when I first set foot in a Mall. A glorious shoppers' paradise. A jungle of things just waiting to be bought and consumed.

No natural water anywhere, but a complicated water feature, inside of all places. People walking indoors from shop to boutique to department store, while stopping at the food court to grab a quick burger and a soda or a milkshake. Everything under one high, high roof.

There was indeed bewilderment and wonder, with the added air of country bumpkin, but with some budding consumer thrown in. I knew I had arrived. At the Mall.

Yesterday, I revisited that paradise, and while it no longer holds the same kind of magic for me as it did when I was a teenager (or actually any magic, but more of a get-out-of-my-way-people-I-am-trying-to-find-me-some-shoes feeling seems to win out in the end) I still managed to spend some money.

And there was absolutely no way I was ever going to pass up on these:

Mi nuevos bebes
.

17 comments:

Molly said...

greeeeeeen with sneaker envy :p

Chris Hoke said...

Those are some kickin' Chucks.

Miss Footloose said...

American malls! What a treat after living in places naked of modern shopping emporiums. They have Everything under the sun. Well, not really!

Have you ever been to one of these huge African outdoor markets? Here's a story comparing the joys of shopping in an western shopping mall with shopping in an African market. Wish I could add a picture. ;)

http://lifeintheexpatlane.blogspot.com/2009/07/expat-girls-go-shopping.html

LoisW said...

That is some color green!!

African outdoor markets! My daughter loved them. When you are bored, take a peek...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ygk2AVQzECw

LoisW said...

Also, I wondered if you have any knowledge of what is going on with the Jacki Selebi family as late. I have not heard how everything ended. Has there been any news in the local paper? My son and Elton Selebi were friends when we lived in Geneva. Jacki's wife, Diane, was very kind to me.

caroldiane said...

the whole American mall shopping pastime fascinates me - something about being Canadian. I have found myself absolutely bereft in malls in Scottsdale and Las Vegas, wishing for some real air, trees and water. I am glad you had fun!!

Mei said...

It is so funny how some people get baffled at the thought of a mall. "You mean it is just one big place full of shopping delight!"

Every time I have family from Jamaica they run me ragged going to the mall everyday from opening to closing. I wish I could appreciate the mall that much. But I hate shopping.

Miss Footloose said...

Middle Aged Woman: And now I found the YouTube link about your daughter's experiences in Africa. I love all the happy faces! I am so homesick!

www.lifeintheexpatlane.blogspot.com

Sandy K. said...

I love how you weave a tale...you can make me chuckle almost from the first word, and bring me to your place. The Mall never held that fascination for me, but I can't remember a time when they weren't part of my world. Love the shoes:). The color is fabulous!

Claire Scherzinger said...

ooo! Nice! :D And I love American malls because the stuff there is so much cheaper than Canada!

Love the shoes. Good choice. :)

Cwybrow said...

COOL shoes. q: what do you wear them with ? (or is the answer EVERYTHING)
I really want to wear them with denim cutoffs, but then they have to be unlaced so my legs don't get magically shorter and thicker... and then I can't walk anywhere. Suggestions?

Optimistic Pessimist said...

they're spectaular....congratulations.

Suze said...

PLEASE can I have your con's? I have a small child and a home business and live in the UK where we don't really do 'malls' but miss them from my longhaul flying crew pre-child career.... And mine are falling apart. So please...? Please can I have them? I'll love them till they fall apart. Promise.

lyndseywiley said...

OH, SO in love with the shoes... I just bought my daughter (3) her very first pair of converse, and I'm still decided how weird it would be for me to have a matching pair... I mean, I'm her mom, not her sister... Still VERY cute.

My name is Erin. said...

Thank you for helping in the quest for economic recovery. We're getting tired of not being able to drive our third car. You know, the one parked next to the boat in the 4 stall garage of our McMansion. We really do appreciate your consumerism (is that a word?)

PS. cute sneaks.

Gracey said...

Neat shoes!

I hate shopping, but I love new clothes! So until they find a way to have both covered (online clothes shopping is not really happening in Greece), I just endure the torment of shopping with patience!

kristina said...

I love the green converse. I want the green converse. send me the green converse. please? ;-)