Mallrats

After visiting King's College Chapel and Lincoln Cathedral, the Major and Minor courses headed off to a different place of worship... the mall! Inspired by David Foster Wallace's "Shipping Out" (1998), we decided to write descriptive passages in which each sentence starts with "I have" before listing a particular sensory experience:

I have seen sundresses and skirts dancing with the breeze of the mall air conditioning. 
I have seen grande Starbucks cups, topped with pounds of whipped cream, and a petite green straw to adorn. 

I have seen blonde hair pushed back by sunglasses and pink lipstick decorating delicate roses, rouge on apples of cheeks and black mascara creating spiders, crawling across eyelids. 

I have seen workout pants and Nike sneakers, pacing the floors of the mall, breaths heavy. 

I have seen little earbuds and large headphones atop the heads of men, their music enthusiastic and inspirational, noted by their rhythmic strides. 

I have seen thousands of shopping bags in one hand and a cell phone in the other, and probably a chihuahua in a tiny purse and Prada heels clicking against the marble flooring. 

I have seen elderly couples, sipping tea and holding hands, staring into each other's eyes. 

I have seen a young woman place her hand into her gentleman's back pocket, then smile, proudly displaying their love. 

I have seen tourists with cameras, capturing the beauty of Cambridge in nothing other than a shopping mall. 

I have seen mothers feeding infants on public benches, grinning at passerby's. 

 I have seen ladies scribbling notes into a filled journal, spectacles atop the nose, sitting directly next to a young woman typing onto her laptop, sunglasses protecting her eyes from the incredibly hazardous fluorescent lights. 

I have seen foreheads and hair parts, eyes staring at mobile phones, fingers scrolling. 

I have seen ladies and gents walking among the world, being themselves, unaware of the fact that a young girl was writing about their every move. 

- Kimberly (Major course)

I have smelled the soaps and bath bombs of Lush. I have seen the shiny glass windows full of colorful shoes on sale. I have seen cute old couples browsing the mall together, canes in hand. I have walked by Hollister to be met with a whiff of perfume and a blast of pop music. I have heard the faint opera playing in the rest of the mall. I have looked up to see the lattice-like glass ceiling and the shadow it creates. I have seen families of three, groups of teen girls, and people alone while shopping. I have seen the not-so-subtle security cameras planted between stores. I have passed by stores selling pens, clothes, handbags, shoes, jewelry, sunglasses, picture frames, stationery, and perfume. I have seen employees organizing makeup in John Lewis. I have smiled at two little kids running around laughing, waving to their mom from display windows. I have then seen their mom rushing to stop the little boy as he presses his tongue to the same store window. I have seen a little girl and her mom pushing a pink stroller, both wearing matching pink patterned clothes. I have seen the glass walls of Costa Coffee displaying words like pop, zing, brrrr, whoosh, and kick.
I have passed women in their 20s and 30s, walking briskly as they clutch their armfuls of shopping bags. I have admired rows of Havaiana flip-flops of all colors, patterns, and sizes. I have smelled cigarette smoke wafting off of strangers. I have felt called to by the Apple Store and its spotless rows of new devices, not to mention the enticing free wifi. I have seen sparkling watches modeled by celebrities in the windows of Fraser Hart. I have watched employees set up window displays in various stores. I have nearly been hit by a little red-haired boy riding some sort of kid vehicle. I have heard many different accents and languages. I have watched two young sisters jump off the bottom step of an elevator. I have seen people dressed in all different outfits. I have been waved and smiled at by adorable little kids. I have enjoyed the patches of sun coming in from the ceiling. I have seen a pigeon fly over me, despite the fact that we are indoors.

I have felt the change of temperature based on location, from cool to very warm. I have walked past the “fine footwear” of Charles Clinkard. I have watched a teen girl struggle to open her pack of mint gum. I have seen a huge group of people traveling together as part of English First. I have seen a woman pushing an empty stroller, and have wondered why she was doing so. I have felt overwhelmed by all the advertisements surrounding me. I have sat on a bench and observed my surroundings. I have been to Grand Arcade Mall. 

- Kayla (Major course)

I’ve seen so many chapels, museums, cathedrals… It was a long time since I came to a 
mall. I’ve seen mirrors on top, narrow but tall. I’ve seen: sales in every shop, bags in people’s hands, mothers, daughters, sons, fathers, old cute couples that are holding hands. I’ve seen teachers counting their students. I’ve seen employees reorganizing messed up clothes while smiling from the outside but swearing from the inside. I’ve seen people listening to their iPods instead of interacting with people. I’ve seen people who are lost and trying to figure out where they are. I’ve seen people just looking at the clothes and imagining them on their own bodies.  I’ve heard so many languages that I didn’t understand and I felt what people were feeling when they heard me and my friends talking Turkish in Cambridge. I’ve smelt the chocolate smell that came from the cookie shop which made me drool and I’ve smelt all kinds of fruit smells that came from the “Body Shop”. I have felt people’s rush and also I have felt people wanting to just look around. I have been to the mall.

- Zeynap (Major course)

 I have seen the very most common sign that says “sale” posted on most of the window shops to attract the attention of shoppers. I have seen an elderly couple walking through the halls of the mall, never letting go of either hand. I have seen a family of tourists consisting of a mother, father, sister, and a brother looking for a shop that sells the things they need for their vacation. I have seen the fresh, morning faces of people who wake up early everyday and I wonder how that seems trouble-free for them. I have seen a father trying to keep his three-year-old daughter safe by holding her hand tight. I have seen, in the entrance of the Gant shop,  a mother and her son - the mother choosing an outfit for her son and the son trying on the outfits. I have seen a group of what seem like six-year-old children carrying their backpacks everywhere they go. I have seen a businessman who appears to be having a busy call with his boss. I now know that the Grand Arcade consists of 60 (stylish) stores within three ‘sky-lit’ floors. I have seen people walking about bringing around the cup of coffee they just bought from Costa Coffee. I have seen a woman lifting her shopping bag on one hand and holding her phone on the other. I have seen two inseparable best friends exploring the mall in the company of their own joy and laughter. I have seen a woman walking around with her earphones in (trying to ignore the world) with that ignorant face of hers. I have heard classical music playing, filling the atmosphere of this place with its classical melody. I have seen a teenage girl going out of Hollister carrying a bunch of her seemingly heavy shopping bags using both of her hands. I have seen a proudly married couple with the wife pushing a stroller that carries their newborn baby. I have seen a grandfather walking with his 5-year-old grandson who is more likely a mischievous child, as he was playfully annoying his poppa. I have seen a man strolling around shirtless, exposing the tattoos on his (6 packed) body – why would he do that? Moving on. I have noticed how the roof is made of glass, letting in sunshine to light up this place. I have seen a group of people from EF creating a huge wave among the people walking in the hallway. I have heard an alarm with a continuously beeping noise that comes from the River Island shop. I have heard loads of different languages coming from people of all countries, including Turkish, Chinese, French, Dutch, and Spanish. I have seen the hallway in a quite crowded condition that some people seem to be pushing their way through. I now know the difference between different types of people. To be specific: What they do, wear, and shop for in stores. I now get a sense of that “funny-stalker” feeling when sitting on the bench of the Grand Arcade.

- Zahra (Major course)

I’ve seen the small town of Cambridge, and the giant mall that seems too big to be contained within. I have noticed that the Grand Arcade is a mall, not a “grand arcade.” I have smelled the profound perfume of Hollister. I have seen all the 50%, 70%, and 75% sale signs hanging in the store windows. I have also seen the 20% sale sign—but that store seems a little more quiet than the others. I have not been smiled at by any staff members. I have been yelled at the security guard for sitting on the floor. I have only noted four benches which are entirely full. I have heard the sound of an alarm going off at a storefront, as a group of girls look around worried. I have observed the sweat of people cooking under pressure. I have seen a woman digging into her purse for change. I have seen the women drop all the change. I have also observed some additional loose pence on the floor that she missed.  I saw the nametags of a few salesman at Vodafone, “Ben” and “Sam.” I ran into a glass door. I have heard girls squeal, “oh my god” and “that’s too expensive.” I have tried to make conversation with a guy sitting next to me but then I realized he didn’t speak English. I have heard mysterious music coming from hidden speakers around the mall. I have taken a video with friends titled, “Cambridge Day 8.” I have gone to the bathrooms on the top floor that are nice for public bathrooms. I have noticed a little boy with a tropical sun hat, red shirt, and cargo pants, jumping around. I have seen a woman with shorts too short for her age. I have seen a girl with shorts too long for her age. I have seen a man looking at sparkling silver watches but sighing away. I have seen an elderly couple walking like snails through the entrance. I have heard people greet each other in three different ways: “Hey” “Hi” “Hello”—not including other languages. 

- Winter (Major course) 

All I see is garbage of all the perfumes they put on just to smell better
As if authority could be put by appearances, like a top hat
It can fall easily. Supposedly giving us height but none of it is real.

I've seen love at its weirdest
Is it the tattoos that bind them together? Who knows.

How interesting to see thy who wears a classy suit eating classy fruit
And thy who tries to look good by eating
What we say to be good.

I have laughed as I see old people
Buying fancy dresses as if they
Were young again...

I have seen love that's been formed for ages.
I've seen love that's been formed for a day.

I have seen how this
Corrupt system has
Made the meek work.

I have seen how a wife is using her husband
As a cradle to carry things... how fun will it be to get married?

I've seen guys spending money
On women's clothing
That they tried on and liked.

How that I have seen how weird this world
Is, but because of this I enjoy
Every second of it.

- Carl (Minor course)
  
I have seen children with bunnies. I have seen men with tattoos. I have seen mismatched colors. I have seen red lipstick and I have seen industrial boots. I have seen people see other people. I have smelled expensive perfume and I have smelled cheap cologne. I have smelled new books and I have smelled old shoes. I have smelled the sweat from an already long day. I have heard English spoken in every accent. I have heard people shout into phones. I have heard people sing when they think no one is listening. I have heard the incoherent babble of young babies. I have felt hard marble floors. I have felt cold metal bars. I have felt soft fabrics and I have felt durable backpacks. I have felt the hug of a scared little girl.

I am in the Grand Arcade Mall: The Home of Stylish Brands.

- Madeleine (Minor course)