Half Venting, and the truth about Montreal shopping.
In the aisle of the only all-in-one store in the area - Walmart - I am walking down a large center aisle gracefully pushing a shopping cart. The girls are at their camp and I am relishing in a bit of alone time and the joy of being at Walmart, for once, when it is not crowded with people. I see a very sweet looking young Walmart employee about 10-15 feet ahead of me walking in the center of the aisle. I push my cart over to the far left of the aisle so that I may view some frames they had on special. The young lady, instead of going around to her right, stops in front of my cart, looks me square in the eye, and pushes my cart over to the right. I could have moved, yet I felt the whole experience a violation of space and common courtesy. So I let go of the cart, stared back with a determined expression and let her clumsily push my cart further and barge past me. I turn around but was given no word or other response to why she felt this need for a confrontation, when clearly there shouldn't have been one. I can't say that I am shocked by her behavior as this is not the first time I have felt frustration with shopping. HERE was my first post about my run-ins with shopping carts.
There are three rules, I believe every Montreal shopper lives by:
1. Place your cart directly in the center of an aisle, and walk away.
2. Everyone always has the right of way.
3. No matter what language, Excusez Moi or Excuse me, always means the same thing: stand your ground, don't move, and ignore, ignore, ignore.
It's not uncommon to experience this at least once a week, particularly #1, this is a huge problem here - a problem - I never realized was one, until we moved here. All told, it was interesting experience, and one I hope doesn't happen again. Perhaps she was simply having a bad day.
btw...My vacation update is coming soon!
How would you rate courtesy at your grocery store?
7 comments:
Wow- I can't say I have ever experienced anything like that! I am not sure what I would have done. I see the frustration!
Can't wait for the vacation update!
This would have totally frusturated me! I think it would motivate me to buy in bulk, so I wouldn't have to shop as much! hee hee! I hope your next trip to the store is much better!
That is terrible Michelle. How rude!! I might have said something to her for that. I have gotten spoiled living in San Antonio because the people, and workers are extremely friendly and nice. Arizona is sadly a different story. People tend to be in a rush a lot of times and I find myself being cut off on the road quite often.
Sheesh! What a crabby lady. I haven't experienced that and I hope I never do. I am not as even tempered as you, and she probably would have gotten quite the ear-full.
Hope your future shopping experiences are more calming.
oh my goodness! that is unreal.. I probably would have laughed... in shock! well, I guess it wasn't the first time.. maybe the first time that would be my response.. what are they thinking? they are the only ones around? and an employee? Wierd!
look forward to your vacation update!
glad you are home!
I agree with your confusion and frustration. That makes noooo sense for her to have done that! I'm sorry it put a blemish on your kid-free outing. In the South we may have our quirks, but for the most part people know & practice nice shopping behavior. :)
Around here the shopping cart rules generally follow the rules of the road - stay to the right unless you are specifically looking at something on the left. Give the right of way to the main roads, I mean aisles, and so on. Is the driving in Montreal as scary as the shopping?
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