When you live abroad for a long time, you tend to identify certain cultural objects that can readily anchor you with a sense of home. They are the things which – for better or for worse – come to signify “America.”
It might be a diner that serves all-day brunch. Or the blissful simplicity of a tumble dryer. Or – depending on your politics – the meteoric rise of a Mama Grizzly politician or a musician for whom the public is Gaga.
For me, that cultural touchstone has always been Target, that iconic superstore of highways and strip malls across America where you can buy everything from toothpaste to DVD players. Whenever we go back to the States, my husband and I devote an entire day to shopping at Target. We even have a running “Target list” on our computer to which we add items regularly throughout the year.
Read the rest of this article at www.PoliticsDaily.com…
Image: Target Cart by joannabethpdot via flickr under a Creative Commons license.
August 5, 2010, 5:17 pm
Delia, I feel your pain re Target. My husband and I gave up shopping there on November 5th, 2005 (shortly after our own return from England). I was angry that Target permits its pharmacists to refuse to fill prescriptions for doctor ordered medication such as emergency contraception. At the same time, my husband wanted us to stop shopping at Walmart.
It was tough, as I was at Target once or twice a week and would always end up picking up something. But in the end, it has been a blessing: we spend more on some things at other stores but we spend a lot less overall. And avoiding Walmart with the over-crowding and long, slow lines: heaven!
By the way, every year or so, I email Target asking if the policy has changed so I can go back (yeah, despite the benefits, I still miss it at times): since the very first email I sent in 2005 (answered by a form PR non-statement), I have never heard from them.
Good Luck with however you choose to go forward.
S
August 5, 2010, 7:29 pm
What a great story, Sabrina. I share your concerns re: pharmaceuticals. Nice to know there is a kindred spirit out there! (p.s. hate walmart…)
August 5, 2010, 6:09 pm
I know just what you mean about the convenience shopping! I keep a list of things to buy when I visit the States too only I like Wal-Mart OK. Asda over here just isn’t the same…
August 5, 2010, 7:58 pm
And our Target store gives .5% back to our county…of it’s profits….but I guess no more…or not until somebody takes the initiative and gets the supreme court ruling better defined so that Corporations can not rule the world.
I do not shop at Wal Mart or Cabello s now because they are so abusive to their employees and make the States pay for their employees health care…and do not pay their proper rates in taxes….I wish that boycott was working
August 5, 2010, 8:01 pm
yes, Walmart is even worse in many ways, @Patricia. @Shelley-I am proud to say that I’ve never even set foot in an Asda!
August 5, 2010, 8:05 pm
Target just issued an apology:
Love reading your blog, Delia!
August 5, 2010, 8:59 pm
yippee! thank you.
August 6, 2010, 11:52 am
Just reading your post the morning after I did my frenzied and elated Target shopping. Glad I got it done before I knew about this. Ugh! Seriously– why must all good things come to an end. Going back for one last shop before returning with all three kids ALONE was probably the only thing keeping me sane!
August 6, 2010, 2:58 pm
fear not-target apologized last night! enjoy the trip…
August 24, 2010, 8:48 pm
What’s with the Target apology? Are they taking back the $150 grand? Or contributing an equal amount to Lambda or any similar organization? I am clearly badly out of touch in my own country!