Meal Deal

The Meal Deal

I have frequently heard of the terms: “third world countries”, “developing world”, and “poor countries” as well as “first world countries”, “developed countries” and “rich countries”. Perhaps, I only knew the difference theoretically; this was until I lived in Scotland. I have been living in Scotland for just over 8 years. Since December 2012 I have worked as a Customer Service Assistant in a Sainsbury’s Convenience Supermarket.

 Everyday the Meal Deal flies off the shelves. The cost of the Meal Deal is £3. It consists of the following: A choice of any sandwich, A Juice Drink and a Snack.

 This Meal Deal is bought by almost everyone: construction workers, high school students, men in suits, cashiers (like myself), women in suits, policewomen, street sweepers, and the Aberdeen football team manager. They seem to all afford it, at any time of the month. With their change, they buy the lottery, or any £1 lottery scratch-card. Often any other change, mostly a few pence are casually thrown in the blue coin-filled charity collection box­ – located conveniently by the checkouts.

 I have observed this for almost three years: it’s a norm, a way of life, and a tradition. As confirmed by some customers: ‘‘it’s only a meal deal’’; ’’it’s only a pound!’’ ‘‘Tonight its 72 million, one day I will be lucky’’ (referring to the Euro millions lottery jackpot). I recognised most faces, they tirelessly carry out this very ‘developed’ norm: £3 for a Meal Deal, £1 for the lottery, and a few pence for the charity box.

 On the other hand, in Botswana, the so-called Meal Deal: the sandwich, the cake and the Tropicana juice are indeed a luxury. From my observations and experience in my home village of Kanye and the Capital Gaborone: the common person cannot afford to buy the £3 Meal Deal, whereas in Aberdeen they can, almost daily.

 This was until I remembered that £3 in Botswana is the overall daily wage (at least 8 hours of work) for most: for those employees who are paid a minimum wage; whereas in Scotland, £3 is earned in around 25 minutes; for employees who are paid a minimum wage.

 Today, I just want to thank The Meal Deal.

 That is my inspiration.