Instead of hitting the beach for Spring Break, a college student spent his time off at an Iowa Wal-Mart , becoming a celebrity of sorts.

Skyler Bartels spent 41 hours earlier this month wandering the Wal-Mart Supercenter in Windsor Heights to test the retail giant's advertising of being able to get anything day or night.

Bartels, an aspiring writer and Drake University sophomore, thought he'd spend a week in a Wal-Mart as a test of endurance, using it as the premise for a magazine article. His college adviser liked the idea.

Bartels said he wandered the aisles, checked out the merchandise, watched the people, ate at an in-store Subway shop and slept wherever he could find a spot in the test, supported by his family and college adviser.

He said other shoppers and employees didn't pay much attention until the end of his stay, when it appeared some store greeters began to take notice -- pointing at him and whispering.