Finding Comfort in Somali Malls Essay

I am originally from Somalia a country located in the East Africa also called “Horn of Africa”, bordered by Ethiopia, Djibouti and Kenya. I was born and raised in Kenya. However, both my parents were born and rise in Somalia, they went their school in Mogadishu, Somalia, and built their family there. Five of my siblings, we were born in Mogadishu Somalia, but unfortunately, they did not had the opportunity to experience them early childhood in Somalia. In a brief history the Republic of Somalia has had its ups and downs with unrest, starting with a war, which broke out in the early 90’s. With these conflicts came unbearable life situations and many people searched for opportunities all over the world, mainly the western continents.

Pointing and sprinting from store to store, bags in hand and wallet held tight. The sounds of screaming, laughing, and talking fill the space. Cash registers beaming and cards being swiped. There’s just no other place like this; a shopping mall. Today, buying clothes or items of interest is highly popular. All of one’s favorite stores feet away from each other, this ritual is composed of elements that might not seem very evident without looking close enough. At the International Plaza in beautiful Tampa Florida, I conducted observations and my own experiences as well to analysis this ritual as a cultural phenomenon. Through this research, we can understand the true meaning of a shopping mall.

To my surprise, I left Somalia appreciating the little aspects of my trip. I’m thankful to have gotten to know family from both my mother and father’s side -we were able to bond pretty quickly, and I only wish that I could’ve gotten to know them earlier. I still remember every conversation I’ve had on the terrace with my family, whether it was silly or serious. The environment was calming and quiet, much different than the busy and crowded city I’ve grown up in. Everywhere I turned, there were goats and camels calmly walking alongside people. During my drives from one town to another, I saw such beautiful scenery postcards would do it no justice. Although I was surrounded by poverty, it was hard to tell by the people’s mindsets. There was always a strong sense of community visible through little traditions and rituals. Everyone was hardworking, optimistic, and prideful. This collective spirit made me let go of my pessimistic attitude towards visiting and helped me adopt their

Today at her parent's residential hut in Dadaab, Ahmed Ardo is caught up in flurry of activities. She was among the very the first to arrive at the camp when her family fled their war torn country of Somalia in 1991. She was only five when she was caught up in the horrors of the civil war.

The country of Somalia had a colorful past, in that plenty of conflicts went on throughout its history. The government of Somalia improved throughout the years. It has overcome corruption, but even though Somalia is ran different today, the issues of fraud still arise. Government fraud, Civil War, and American difference have been steady throughout Somalia’s peak of destruction. We look to the present day Somalia and see that terrorism and fraud still try to disrupt the clean appearance that Somalia is trying to live by. Though all of these variables are constant in Somalia today, the strength of the government trying to succeed is stronger than creating a setback.

They will approach you and ask if you need any help picking clothes out but most of the time the staff let you see what you want and buy it, it is this what makes the stores so good you enter with a very relaxed atmosphere no one really pressures you to buy the clothes of coarse the one pressure you do have when entering is if you have enough money to buy there clothes! Although you may be able to find some of their clothes because people are reselling them.it was originally supposed to attract 14-18 year olds this line of clothes was going to be cheaper than the parent brand and it was ranked as the second most popular clothing brand in

Before I begin my epic story about my homeland (Somalia) I would like to give a brief background about Somalia. After World War II the British and Italian’s colonized Somalia into a country where the people had no rights and no choices. One would think colonization would be eradicated after World War II; however that was not the case. On July 1st 1960 Somalia gained its independence from Britain and Italy. On that day our nation was reborn, but this time stronger than ever before. As a young kid my parents always talked about taking me back to Somalia so that I can get to know my culture and family. Over the time the talking turned into reality. Immediately after we were told the news we flew out the next week. It was so sudden, things seemed

Africa is a rich continent with an abundance of resources, diverse cultures, exotic people and exciting traditions, yet it seems as though it is perpetually facing armed conflict (Lukunka, 2012). Of the conflicts Africa is facing currently, Somalia is the center for some of the largest conflicts. The history of Somalia has been hit with conflict after conflict, not only between rival clans but also with other countries, most recently between not only regional powers but also the US and Al-Qaida. The current conflict in Somalia differs from the rest due to the number and type of players involved; the large numbers of foreign players involved in local affairs and the role radical Islam is playing in the conflict. With most of the

Mental preparation and money. Rather you’re waiting in a line or maneuvering through the stores, it can be frustrating. Always stay calm; people can be rude and inconsiderate when trying to buy items that are limited. I found it convenient to use a specific purse for shopping and use a debit card. In most cases you may be

Somalia is a country which has gone through an extreme time of hunger, violence and distraught. In the early 1990’s Mohammed Siad Barre leader of Somalia was removed forcibly from power by a union of opposing clans called the United Somalia Congress which, their temporary alliance and partnership soon came to an end dividing the United Somalia Congress into two groups. Mohammed Farah Aidid led one of the groups; Ali Mahdi led the other. The Somalia Civil War between clans consequently destroyed Somalia’s agriculture.

Today's malls are the centers for teenage hangouts, parent-child bonding, and, most of all, consumerism- the centers of today's society. These large complexes house both local and chain stores, food courts, arcades, public space (used for fashion shows and picture ops with the Easter Bunny and Santa Clause). The minute you walk into the mall, usually via a department store, sales and advertisements hit you in the face, and the sense of money exchaning hands

The advantage of shopping in a store is to choose the quality of the goods on the spot. People all went to shops to buy goods before online shopping is not in vogue, in store, people can see the real goods, the problem can be solved at that time, if there is the fake goods that can be immediately returned. In store, people also can try to use the goods, especially clothes and shoes, people can put them on and know whether the size fits well or not. For people who like shopping in a store, those people who shopping in stores give them keen enjoyment, they can communicate with their friends and relax on market, at that they could buy some suitable goods. They can see the goods in stores and compare with other ones so that they can decide which one to buy. This is a very effective way. (Marc L. Resnick)

This first time I remember walking through the mall in New Jersey I was a little girl holding my mother’s hand. This mall is a dismal place, with one level and one major department store on each end. The elongated brown brick walls made me feel like I am walking into a dungeon, into the land of the abyss. It was not a joyous place for a child to visit. On one occasion, my mother brought me an ice cream cone and with one lick it was on the floor. I never saw my mother so mad before; she picked up the ice cream and demanded I receive another one. Little did I know that this dark dreary space was going was my future place of employment. The mall was not a place I hung out at as a teenager, first, it was too far and second we had a downtown to shop. While I was away at school they remodeled the mall and expanded the space into a mega palace to include four levels of bright lights, white walls, shining floors, glass elevator and a skylight. The mall added a movie theater, bookstore, hair salons, restaurants, food court, computer stores, post office, and fitness center, just to name a few minor changes. I was speechless, walking around the same mall as I did as a child with amazing like Charlie in the Chocolate Factory.

It was the most crowded I ever saw it; witches, vampires, and princesses from all over, stampeded grinning strangers for what mysterious gifts they sought to part with. It was October 31st 1997 at Westminster Mall, and pillow cases full of confectionery awaited the hard working ghouls willing to trade sweat for precious sugar. Little did I know that every subsequent year that this fervent liveliness would slowly fade; how long had this poison been coursing the once vibrant and living mall? Today, Westminster Mall is a vague shadow of what it used to be; it’s attempt to crawl back from death has only placed it into a frail comatose state. The Westminster Mall is a constantly shifting system of signs, prone to death and reanimation.

To tell the truth the methods of shopping may vary. It may be a self-service shop where the customer goes from counter to counter selecting and putting into a basket what he wishes to buy. Then he takes the basket to the check-out counter, where the prices of the purchases are added up. If it is not a self-service shop, and most small shops are not, the shop-assistant helps the customer in finding what he wants. You pay money to the cashier and he gives you back the change.