Confessions of a PCV

The contrasts between lifestyes still overwhelms me from time to time. I get bombarded with reflections, comparisons, judgements, different reactions.

You keep a PCV locked up in a wealthier Central American city's hotel room for 3 weeks, a few of these stronger fits are bound to burst forth.

When I went shopping at one of the three HUGE multiplex malls in the city the other day with Nga, for example - QUITE the experience.

My reaction:

Massively overstimulating consumerism set to tones of chic/tacky music AND strategically-placed objects that serve little purpose in the big scheme of things, all within the square acreage of a small town. Which is, not to mention, beset with multiple locations of several different fast food, fast dining and snack shops that collectively set out to demand your attention, pilfer your wallet & waistline and condition you to repeatedly favor the indistinct 'right now' over the unique and rich 'in moderation' election when it comes to the high calorie, money-absorbing treats such as those, should be. Lastly, with the need to simply convey/purchase your elections, be they clothes, acessories or food, the act becomes a mountain of details you are propulsed to shuffle through whether you want specific or general (and you find yourself wondering if in fact you really need so much detail in your selections to begin with.)

(Which reminds me of a quote about the subject of people and their choice-making that I adore: "The whole purpose of places like Starbucks is for people with no decision-making ability whatsoever to make six decisions just to buy one cup of coffee. Short, tall, light, dark, caf, decaf, low-fat, non-fat, etc. So people who don't know what the hell they're doing or who on earth they are can, for only $2.95, get not just a cup of coffee but an absolutely defining sense of self: Tall. Decaf. Cappuccino." - Joe Fox, You've Got Mail

(Whew that paragraph was fun to articulate - the positive out of this shopping experience; it gave me a muse for philosophical thought amongst all the mucking about in fabricated dronage and my current medical self-absorbtion. That, plus I did find a casual, comfortable dress for only $2.95.)