Today started at 6:00 and actually I was again awoken by the coho bird’s morning serenade. The closest one started first. Others answered. For all I know, the calls continued to be telegraphed down the south coast.Lal left to spend the night in Nugegoda. He can feed the cats and check up on the house. He’ll return tomorrow for Jay’s birthday. His sisters are making a big deal about it. Actually, his younger sister’s birthday was last month, so they’re sort of combining the events. It might means the opportunity for a few more drinks although Jay, himself, doesn’t partake in that vice.
After, the tuktuk arrived back. Younger sister, Jay, and I went to town to the Food City. They are a huge chain of small, super-efficient grocery stores run by Cargill’s. They are a very old name in trade here. The incarnation of Food City shops are just a sign of the times. All stock is computerized, which I’m sure helps them be quite efficient. They carry those things that people used to expect as gifts from overseas family members.
Since Middle East days in the 1980’s Jay’s always made a big deal about purchasing things for any trip home. All Sri Lankans did. It wasn’t just big ticket items like televisions and video decks. Lots of consumer items would be shipped or come as accompanied baggage too. In some cases the imported product probably WAS of superior quality. I’m sure Cadbury chocolates probably were better than those from Kandos. The people of many countries associate particular products as being the best from specific countries. So Swiss watches carry panache. However, Sri Lankans took this to the extreme. The assumption was, and to a small extent still is, if it comes from somewhere else it is probably better.
The Food City chain is probably reflecting the realities of the global market place rather than catering the whims of local consumers. Yes, the frozen, uncooked French fries came directly from the USA as did the fresh poultry. My deodorant stick came from the Philippines but the sponge wipes from Germany. Still there are lots of manufactured food products from right on island.
The thing that really shows economic change is now the closest Food City is about a kilometer and a half away. Being able to find a can of Quaker Oats on a shelf so close is undoubtedly development. Isn’t it?