Medea Burdjanadze sits in the Plaza's Cafe Court. She is from Georgia, the former Soviet Republic, via the University of Vermont, where she's a visiting scholar. Today, her study is us. Or, us shopping. "We have to build our economy," Burdjanadze says of Georgia. "I have to buy something because my money I give for other people," expressing the humanistic side of capitalism. She's here because her friend told her: "This mall is very famous in the United States." Her friend is at work today, but her friend's mother sweeps the dust and trash off the floor at the mall. In Georgia, the mother was a linguist. Burdjanadze remembers years ago when she saw President Clinton on TV, visiting the Mall of America in Minneapolis on Christmas Eve. "Maybe this mall is also where the president is coming." She smiles and chuckles.
« Sanity Seekers | Main | Those Who Hate Crowds »
A Study In Shopping
TrackBack
TrackBack URL for this entry:
http://blogs.phillynews.com/inquirer/mt-tb-trythis.cgi/4558.
Copyright © 2006-2008 Philadelphia Newspapers L.L.C. All Rights Reserved.
Authors
Expect various Inquirer writers to start to show their faces -- or at least their words -- on this blog.
Inquirer reporter Mike Jensen is the college basketball columnist for the Inquirer. Each year, he gives a special insight into the tournament.
Inquirer reporter Jeff McLane is the beat writer for Temple. He will pick the tournament.
Inquirer reporter Tom Fitzgerald will blog about Hillary Clinton's Pa. visits March 10 &11.
Inquirer reporter Larry Eichel will post updates on Bill Clinton's March 7 visit to Media.
Inquirer reporter Tim Panaccio will write about National Hockey League trade talk.
Inquirer reporter David Aldridge will live-blog the week before the NBA's trade deadline.
Peter Mucha began this blog, before moving on to other writing duties.
Search
About
This page contains a single entry from the blog posted on December 24, 2007 11:57 AM.
The previous post in this blog was Sanity Seekers.
The next post in this blog is Those Who Hate Crowds.
Many more can be found on the main index page or by looking through the archives.
Movable Type 3.35
Philly.com discussions are intended to be civil, friendly conversations. Please treat other participants with respect and in a way that you would want to be treated. You are responsible for what you say. And please, stay on topic.
These boards are monitored by Philly.com staff. We reserve the right at all times to remove any information or materials that are unlawful, threatening, abusive, libelous, defamatory, obscene, vulgar, pornographic, profane, indecent or otherwise objectionable to us in our sole discretion and to disclose any information necessary to satisfy the law, regulation, or government request. Personal attacks, especially on other board participants, are not permitted. We reserve the right to permanently block any user who violates these terms and conditions.