Wet markets: Not super, just better

I love wet markets. I guess many of us do. Wet markets are extremely colorful, full of scents and sounds. A wide variety of goods are on display for sale. Our eyes try to make sense of the myriad colors and textures. Our noses are suddenly awakened to a complex mix of aromas. Our feet move along with those of others in the crowd toward the spots with the greatest commotion. All of these are wonderful moments, making one feel very much alive.

The wet market is a social place, not just a market.

Nowadays, grocery shopping in supermarkets is the norm—clean, highly organized and efficient, but never as attractive. Older people love wet markets, where they can chat with the person selling the goods, some of whom may have become their friends. As “older” customers, they enjoy perks and special privileges. Day in and day out, they make trips to the wet market to buy fresh food to prepare meals for their families. The wet market is a social place, not just a market.

For the younger generation, supermarkets may be the preferred choice. I must confess that I sometimes prefer a supermarket to a wet market, too. I like the fact that, most of the time, I can trust the origins of the foods I buy, that the vegetables I purchase will not rot so easily, because they have not been excessively sprayed with water. Also, the scales work properly and won’t cheat me.

But when I am not in a hurry, when I am in a good mood, I, like our Hong Kong seniors, love to go to a nearby wet market to get the groceries I need. I enjoy seeing people making an honest living out of labor. The wet market is so much more human. You can talk to the person next to you without worrying about whether or not you are observing proper social etiquette. In fact, you are expected to chat with those around you.

The supermarket will never replace the wet market. Just as canned soup will never compare to a mother’s homemade soup.

For Reflections on Nursing Leadership (RNL), published by the Honor Society of Nursing, Sigma Theta Tau International.