Shop Work

Working in a Supermarket can be a bland experience, glaring at the tick of the clock as the time doesn't pass. But it is not the worst job. There are certain elements which are fascinating and scary. Things which seep in between the general thud of working.

The fact that it's a sociable job is one reason I enjoy it. The potential for a conversation with a complete stranger is rather exciting and many are very talkative. Customers being horrible is sometimes true, but many I find to be very nice.

The majority of people I work with are very nice too. There is someone my age I think, who also works with me, and if he's on the till in front or behind I can hear him ask every customer "How has your day been today?" with a variance of "What are you upto this weekend?", over and over he repeats with the same enthusiasm each time. I admire his friendly and open nature and some customers sound a little surprised that someone would ask such a straight-forward question about their day.

Sometimes I'm really open and sometimes a little shy. It flows in waves like the tide coming in and out. I can't control it and I surprise myself when I speak to customers with such ease and openness and then become frustrated that I couldn't accept their invitations for conversations such as Huge Sighs and "That's a good offer, isn't it?" or "Just getting a few holiday bits"

One thing I find fascinating is that I feel I've discovered all of the people I would never usually see or be around - the nine to five workers, girlfriends and boyfriends kissing whilst queing,
people from other countries who haven't learned english, young mums and dads, older mums and dads. I have never really integrated with them before and now I do all the time
for a brief moment.

I have started to become fond of some of the regular customers. There is an old lady who looks quite sweet. She wears a long mustard yellow coat and wears a cat brooch. Her
shopping bag is covered in cats as well. She always buys cat food and I am always tempted to speak about cats with her, but she seems a very quiet and peaceful lady tottering along.

There is also an old man who comes to my till a lot. He speaks of how he lost his wife and how hard it is for him. He must be quite lonely now because every time he returns he will tell me again.

The one element I find scary is IDing people. It is now Challenge 25 which is difficult, considering Challenge 21 was a challenge for me. I ID some young looking woman and she turns out to be in her thirties. People in their twenties sound offended and shocked to be asked and then exclaim their age in a "you are being ridiculous" type way. I have started to mind less however, and many people are okay with id-ing. Sometimes I ID late thirties people and they are over the moon.

Supermarkets for most people are very in-between places. A stop-off before continuing with the rest of one's actual life, filled with deep emotion and profound experiences. But sometimes I wonder whether going to the Supermarket is the most significant and sociable part of the day for some people. The offers. The small talk. Being asked "Do you want any help packing?". Four for a pound. Reduced to clear. Free samples. Mix and match. Far more interactive and alive than a television. A nightclub for the lonely.