My H Mart
the journal of literature and the arts at saint david’ s school
My H Mart
“ Lucas, go get some galbi, kimchi, and udon.”
I head toward the meat aisle, but get lost in the vast expanse of endless aisles. I find myself in the snack aisle, and am intrigued by some spicy shrimp crackers. I put those in my shopping cart. Then I try to get back on track, but one of the employees implores me to sample some ramen. The steaming hot noodles have a spicy and savory flavor that is oddly addictive. And before I know it, a six-pack of ramen is in my cart.
Again, I urge myself to get to the meat aisle, but out of the corner of my eye, some Choco Pies pique my interest. I stop my cart and grab a pack. In the end, my cart is filled with spicy shrimp crackers, ramen, and Choco Pies, instead of the galbi, kimchi, and udon I was supposed to get. The vast expanse of endless aisles, full of all kinds of delicacies, has gotten the better of me.
The H Mart location my family and I go to most often is in Fort Lee, New Jersey. Whenever we are in the area, we go to H Mart. This huge supermarket is the centerpiece of a shopping complex. Most of the time, it is hustling and bustling with people. Sometimes it is a cacophony of rolling shopping carts and crying babies. At other times, it is relatively quiet and peaceful, usually in the evenings and at night, when I can easily roam around the market and explore the aisles.
Entering H Mart in the summer months is like going from a desert to the frigid Arctic tundra. During the fall and winter, it can be a welcome respite from the frosty temperatures outside. The combined food court and bakery to the left of the gated entrance is one of my favorite places to grab a snack.
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