If you had told me that I would have to start wearing face masks while grocery shopping, I would’ve given you my famous eye-rolling stare. Not before I’d probably call you a not-so-nice name.
So when the CDC announced, at the end of the first week of April, their recommendation for all Americans to wear face masks when out and about in the coronavirus-infested environment, well, there went our “normal.”
In my prior post, we had bought fabric face masks just before the recommendation. Luckily we did because they ran out the next day.
Asian Market Near Me
I had already used mine for a couple of local grocery runs but the real challenge was hunting for Asian foodstuff for us. And that’s where the real gap is, really. Our local neighborhood Asian and Indian grocery stores were closed because of the COVID-19. They’re Mom and Pop shops that unfortunately got heavily impacted because of the stay-at-home order.
Besides these local shops, we usually go to H-Mart for our Asian necessities. The nearest one to us is about 50 minutes away.
And in the Philadelphia area, a hot-spot for the COVID-19.
Because of its distance and condition, we planned out the trip to get enough supplies that’d last us a handful of months. Hopefully enough to ride out the coronavirus pandemic.
I do have to admit, though, that because of the unique situation, it does make one think ahead and appreciate that preparation is an under-rated activity.
Preparation for emergencies is something to really think about.What if this pandemic is a precursor to a future event of something else?
Hmmmmm.
Anyhoo.
Shopping at H-Mart
Donned our fabric face masks and disposable gloves, Zen Mum and I left Zen Master at home and journeyed to H-Mart over the weekend. I was already used to seeing people dressed as bandits as well, so it didn’t seem out-of-place to me anymore.
Zen Mum, on the other hand, had a tough time with the baseball cap and the face mask. Because when something makes her uncomfortable, she automatically reacts. While in H-Mart, her face mask threatened to fall off several times. Because she kept tugging at it. And her cap was off in very short order.
Because both were making her hot and uncomfortable.
She reminded me of my nephew, who blew his top, screaming, yelling and crying at the top of his lungs when he had to wear gloves in the winter.
An Observation (or Possible Business Opportunity) While Grocery Shopping
When we got home, we were hot and sweating from the excursion. Because bulk rice was on sale, we bought a couple of 20 lbs. bags of both brown and white rice. Bulk soy sauce and fish sauce. Bulk this and bulk that. And I’m the workhorse.
Because I really didn’t plan to come back to this COVID-19 hot spot.
So there’s the gap. The lack of an Amazon model for Asian foodstuff. If we had this out there, we wouldn’t have to face potential exposure to COVID-19. Or wear face masks while grocery shopping!
H-Mart, if you’re listening, if you adopt an Amazon model for your foodstuff, you’d make more of a killing. Guaranteed!
Sally in the Zen
