Observation

Just another ordinary mall, that is what most people think about when visiting the Westfield Gateway mall right here in Lincoln. But really this mall is just a normal mall and also unique in its very own ways that helps show us how our society is today.

The skylights up above let in natural light as you step onto the tan rusted colored tile. As soon as I step into the doors of the mall I realize the interesting setup. The one shocking thing about this mall is where you find all the major shopping stores. All of the stores are on one level, no need for stairs or escalators, unless you want to go to the parking garage. So this structure of the mall makes for easy walking. I sink down into it as I sit and watch the shoppers who walk through the center of the mall by me. Many walkers walk past me as I sit on the big comfy tan chair in the cafeteria. No matter what the weather is there are always mall walkers pumping their arms as they touch every corner and chat away to their walking mate. They pass by me quite a few times but still seem to be on such a mission. From young to old the walkers trudge on from one corner of the mall to the next turn. As I sit there in the middle of the mall the rest of it revolves around me.

The cafeteria is what truly makes a mall unique or just the same old one you can find anywhere else. All kinds of people go to eat in the cafeteria. The Westfield Gateway mall has every kind of food you can imagine, from Hibachi San to Sbarro. With the aroma of food engulfing you as soon as you get near the cafeteria it is hard not to buy something. When first walking into the cafeteria the smell of fresh baked pizza overtakes me and makes me crave it, until I run into Panda Express. Fresh Chinese food just sitting there waiting for me to pick which kind I want. As the rice steams my mouth waters for I must walk away before I am forced to take out my wallet. But once you get your food one must decide where to sit. At the mall there are so many options these days. You can take the normal way out and just pick the average height tables with the regular size chairs. Or you can pick the high top tables with the taller chairs. But my favorite is when people pick the little chairs at the tiny tables. How cute it is to see a child sitting there with excitement painted all over their face because they have a table just for them.

The one thing that amazes me most about most malls is the ability to just tune things out when there. When people walk by me they don't even notice me. They just walk on by with their own lives on their mind and don't even notice. People get so wrapped up in their own lives these days that they don't notice the obvious around them. I sat in the cafeteria for over a half an hour and was barely noticed. It's hard not to tune people out when almost everyone you see is on their cell phone either talking or texting. Our society has become over taken by technology that we can't even take a simple shopping trip to the mall without our little hand held gadgets. The mall has taken this into consideration with its many cell phone stands right in the middle where you can easily access them. With all our little trinkets like cell phones, iPods, and Blackeberrys, how can we notice anything else?

Another interesting factor they put in the mall that I that i hadn't thought about much before is the ATM. Dead and center in the mall is an ATM, how nice and convenient. What a strategic move on the mall's part, which works since there are always people constantly at it. Slide your card, punch in your code, take out card, take out money, take your receipt, then go and spend all the money then you just took out of your account on a new outfit. Going to the ATM is just a simple task that a lot of us do a bit too often these days. But the location of this machine is just way too coincidental. Front and center, right in the middle of the traffic. I don't blame the people in charge at the mall for putting it there. It is something one doesn't notice who is caught up in the hustle and bustle of our everyday lives. Something plain and simple like the location of an ATM makes you think about the other things that you wouldn't normally think about. 

As the carousel just sits there alone by itself I wonder why no one ever gets on. The carousel is another unique unused feature at the Westfield Gateway mall. The lights stay on but yet no one gives it a chance. I always knew it was there but never noticed that no one ever actually rode it. People just walk by it and look at it but don't actually take the time to ride it. The carousel adds a decorative feature to mall but what is its use if there are never passengers? After sometime I started to question if there could even be riders on it until one lone little boy decided to drag his mom over to it. He begged to ride it until his mom let him. The joy he experienced on that couple minute ride lead me to the reason they have the carousel in the mall. Kids most of the time do not enjoy shopping trips. The mom is dragging her purchases in one hand and the child in the other. The bags seem to be heavy but the child is the heaviest weight on her. But as soon as that child gets on that carousel that same mother gets a break, and finally gets to see her child happy. Once off the carousel the little boy isn't in such a bad mood and seems more willing to be at the mall with his mom. Maybe more people should take advantage of the lonely carousel in the middle of the cafeteria. But why would they put a carousel in the middle of the hustle and bustle of the mall? For the children, just like that little boy, so they can enjoy the experience also. Or is this just another strategic move on the mall designer’s part?

My mind seems so confused on what to listen to. Which type of music should I pick? All the sounds just seem to be thrown together but yet also seem to mesh, the carousel melody or the mushed up music from all the stores. I smell vanilla coffee as I sink into the brown comfy chair again. Love is seen in people walking by holding hands. From old to new couples they still can show their care for each other in this simple action. Holding hands is another thing that I don't really think about. You don't just hold hands with anyone, like a stranger. Holding hands with someone really shows them how much you care about them. Just by doing this simple little thing can make you feel like someone else wants you there with them.

Our malls are filled with how our culture is today. The Westfield Gateway mall is just one of the many malls that represents us each day. So the next time you decide to go to the mall take a look around. You never know what you may notice. Maybe it will be something you've never seen before, or discover something completely new.