English
The first thing that came to my mind, when I decided to go to Pocatello, Idaho, was, would there be a mall where I could go shopping during my stay there. I have never heard this name before, and it is only because a friend of mine studies at the Idaho State University, that I finally decided to accept his invitation. Pocatello is a relatively unknown place in the United States, and it’s not a place where friends would plan their holidays, if they had the options of going to more renowned and popular places like Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Florida, Washington or New York. I loved to travel, see new places and find new friends, and when I had the opportunity, I decided to take the road to the north of the country, to visit my friend in Pocatello. On earlier occasions, whenever we had a few days of holidays, my friends or I would drive around looking for adventure in the wilderness. We would drive down Interstate 90, that runs from Boston, Massachusetts, to Seattle, Washington, and stop at some town and learn about its history and people. This time, I planned to go alone as my friends decided to go their own ways for the holiday. I always believed in travelling light, even if it meant that I would have to the same cloths more often than not. Besides, being a student doesn’t give me the luxury to spend like working professionals.
I chose to drive down to Pocatello, a small town in the state of Idaho, where a friend of mine studies at the Idaho State University. The best to reach Pocatello would be by air, but if you want to have some fun, then you can drive. The roads are good and the drive promises to treat your eyes to extreme scenic beauty. On reaching Pocatello, the first thing I got to understand from my friend is that Pocatello is regarded as the ‘Gateway to the Northwest.’ How or why it got its name is uncertain, but Pocatello was once a resting place for gold miners travelling the Oregon Trail. There are a number of places that one can visit, and places like the Bannock County Historical Society and Museum, Pebble Creek Ski Area, Pocatello Zoo, Ross Park Aquatic Complex, Fort Hall Replica, Idaho Museum of Natural History, L.E. & Thelma E. Stephens Performing Arts Center, and the Marshall Public Library are popular. I spent a lot of time at the Bannock County Historical Society and Museum where a large number of exhibits, objects, and records relating to Bannock County and Pocatello’s history are available. It also includes a number of local archaeological specimens, a research archive, and much more. I really liked the pair of 1908 Grindell song books, and the pair of 1930s ladies rubber rain boots complete with heeled pumps and shoe stretchers. It took my mind back in time, as I tried to visualize who could have been that woman, who wore these rubber rain boots almost a century ago. If it’s a part of history that you want, you now know where to go.
Then there is the awe-inspiring, state museum of natural history, the Idaho Museum of Natural History. It is one place I will recommend people going to Pocatello to visit. This is one place where one can understand and learn of Idaho’s natural and cultural heritage. To see the exhibits of dinosaurs and ice-age mammals is worth the money, and then there is also a Tree Walk and a Natural History Garden. If you the money, then you can also visit the museum’s gift shop to buy gifts and souvenirs.
Pocatello is a small town, and is well connected by air, rail, and road. It is close to the intersection of I-15 & I-86. Pocatello can be seen as an example of America’s growing economic growth plans, as it offers connectivity to other parts of the country, has a well-structured communication network, and has a number of high-class industries. The town is also known to be among the best places to do business in the U.S. As a small town, the cost of living is cheap compared to many other places in the U.S. With a number of tourist attractions, schools and colleges, hospitals and recreational centers, Pocatello would be an ideal place to retire.
In between my visits to other places in Pocatello, I went to 4240 Yellowstone Ave. It was the address of Wal-Mart, the famous chain store that has branches all over the world. I might be exaggerating facts, but my visit to Wal-Mart Supercenter, was something that I enjoyed thoroughly. I didn’t expect to see a Wal-Mart store in this small town, but given the kind of people who live here, Wal-Mart is a welcome. For me, it was a blessing in disguise. Where else could you get 10-30% off on purchases as a student? I am a student, and Wal-Mart is my preferred one-stop-shop destination, and when I saw Wal-Mart in Pocatello, i was thrilled.
True, shopping at Wal-Mart stores can be fun, but what I experienced was something different from my visits to Wal-Mart stores in other cities. Here, in Pocatello, far from the madding crowd, is Wal-Mart. Near picturesque hills in the background, Wal-Mart offered a pleasant shopping experience. It is easily accessible by road, and the vast area that covers Wal-Mart’s business stores is comforting. As in all, if not most Wal-Mart stores, there are separate divisions that house apparels, beauty, clothing, furniture & furnishings, jewelry, pharmacy, shoes, sports goods, toys and video games, and videos. Grocery, fruits, bakery, playing area, and parking is abundant. Whether you’re looking for discount stores, or general merchandize, department stores or grocery, Wal-Mart has just about everything under one roof. As a student, I don’t carry much cash, not that I have that much, but when I did visit Wal-Mart at Pocatello, I was overwhelmed by the hospitality I got. The staff there must be credited for their way of helping shoppers, and I was delighted to see a group of young girls, well-dressed, asking me politely if there was something they could do for me with a smiling face.
This was very different from the stone-faced; I don’t give a damn attitude that other counter staffs in other stores have. There was a huge collection of clothing to choose from, and it was really hard to pick a few from them. There were a lot of people who were shopping there as well. The sprawling floor made manoeuvrability easy. There wasn’t the useful crowding or bumping into one another kind of a situation. There were a number of people close by to help in case they wanted any assistance. There were a number of ‘Low Price’ placards put up at dairy, grocery, and fruit areas. The DVD section along the huge walkway was not big by Wal-Mart standards, but it had most of the new releases available. I picked a couple of VDVs and placed them in my shopping cart. Next, I walked to the grocery section and bakes. The stage was set for me to feast my eyes on the neat positioning of quality bread and pastries for a variety of tastes. There were Artisan breads, pastries, cakes and cupcakes, pizza crust, rolls and buns, sandwich breads, tortillas, pitas and wraps. Again, the pricing is amazingly competitive.
What make shopping at Wal-Mart so enthralling are the ambience, the environment, and of course, the discount coupons. The various departments are clean and products are easily recognizable. When new offers are made, they are clearly illustrated through placards. The lighting systems are very enticing to the eye. The store uses a mixture of fluorescent strip lights to light the store overall, in addition to display lamps and LED strip lights. Since the store is open 24/7, these lights keep the store brightly lit at all times. There is a store map at the entrance to the supercenter to assist visitors.
I also found out that, this particular supercenter has become the darling of the local populace because of their support for the people there. I found out that the employees, who I said were exceptionally hospitable, gave a part of their salaries to help schools and individuals! What more can anyone ask of Wal-Mart? For me, it was the satisfaction of knowing that i could live in peace in Pocatello for a week without thinking about money.
