Comments on: How I know I live in a Second world country

By: Hal

Hal — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 13:04:06 +0000

Good article. My only issue is that “Second World” is not a new term. It was invented in the 1960s to refer to countries having planned economies. From what you are describing, you seem to be using the term correctly though.

By: Molly

Molly — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 18:29:53 +0000

They can look up your noses…well that’s just wrong! I always wonder what the cashiers think about us folks on the otherside of the belt.

By: Molly

Molly — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 18:27:54 +0000

So I didn’t create the first definition for second world country- but I did create the second one, which is fitting, don’t you think. It seems like the Middle East is the new second world.

Thanks for the info- I guess you can’t judge a supermarket by its bags!

By: Molly

Molly — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 18:25:14 +0000

Hi Rachel,
It is so true what you say. It is as though they- important supermarket people- want us to look like dorks on wheels- from the sideways cart (and the faces you make trying to steer it straight) to packaging your groceries at the end as though your finishing a race but losing badly.

Thanks for sharing!

By: Molly

Molly — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 18:15:10 +0000

Thanks Mia- I will check out (no pun intended) the internet services when it gets cold enough to not go outside and I can truly appreciate the online shopping and delivery.

By: Molly

Molly — Wed, 31 Oct 2007 18:13:41 +0000

Hi Aliyah06-
Thanks for the important info- keep up the good work and let me know any other juicy details! No bagging- that’s just crazy!

By: Danny Brothers

Danny Brothers — Mon, 29 Oct 2007 08:01:50 +0000

That was hilarious! I’ve spent about a year in Israel, and I’ll never get used to the Israeli supermarket. I love it because as hectic as it is, it is still nowhere near as intimidating as a tiny makolet or a shuk! Though I love my shuk, I also love Ukrops, and Food Lion, and Giant, and Kroger, and Safeway, and so on and so on. Here’s one more item you left out: ridiculously narrow cashier aisles. I feel like they can look up my nose…

By: catherine

catherine — Sun, 28 Oct 2007 03:07:52 +0000

hi, first time visitor, but i just had to jump right in and comment on this!

first, not to be *that* girl, but sadly, the term second-world country already has a definition (though it’s largely obsolete since the end of the cold war). “second world” refers to communist/soviet bloc states.

that said, i ALWAYS think (and say) that if second world didn’t mean that, lebanon would definitely be a “second world” country. i’m not sure you can be truly mediterranean and first world at the same time, really :)

but i also must observe that the grocery stores here in “second world” lebanon do bag for you, whereas in unequivocally first world england (where i lived for a while), you have to do it for yourself. so it’s perhaps not the most reliable gauge…

anyways, sorry for the rambling comment :) great blog btw!!

By: Rachel

Rachel — Sun, 21 Oct 2007 17:03:48 +0000

You forgot to mention the fact that the shopping carts all roll sideways! I actually prefer to bag my own stuff, and always did in America, but there’s something messed up about the system here. There is never enough space at either end of the converyor belot for the items to accumulate, so you are emptying your cart and baggin at the same time, and the bags are alwyays placed in a way that makes them as difficult as possible to reach and open.

By: Mia

Mia — Thu, 18 Oct 2007 14:10:54 +0000

That is so true.
You can order groceries over the internet. http://www.bluecenter.co.il is the site for Supersol and http://www.netsal.co.il is for Mega. I use Netsal and am usually happy with their service and the produce they send.
I just can’t stand seeing my Israeli born husband let my kids drink the chocolate milk in the store before paying for it, even though all of our other Israeli friends and supermarket staff think it’s completely fine and normal as long as you show the empty bottle and pay for it on the way out.