Its Monday time, another awesome market day. I know I have a pretty busy day ahead of me. Killion and I bring Babu and Amir (a friend living in the hostel) to the market. Babu is wearing the cutest African outfit. I am happy to see him so well dressed and fed and remember that it was less than a year ago that Babu had the extended abdomen characteristic of starvation or parasites. When we arrive at the market, I know I need to buy 18 pairs of shoes. I also should buy socks for the soccer team but also can’t forget to pick up uniforms for some of the kids I want to sponsor for primary school. I need to remember to pick up food for Teresa just like last week.
I know that bargaining in Tanzania is not like bargaining anywhere else. They hardly drop the price unless you buy in bulk discount and even after then the prices are still high. The nice thing is that unlike in Congo, Thailand, Haiti, Mexico etc, merchants never chase after and harass you until you buy their stuff. I feel bad that I end up spending so much time bargaining and picking out 14 pairs of shoes that I leave Babu to be entertained by Amir. After hard bargaining through Killion, we get a great deal on cleats, sneakers and socks. I liked being able to spend some time with Babu throughout the day and wanted to take him shopping. I ended up purchasing a toothbrush, Swahili reading book, cookies, soccer shoes and soda for Babu. I also relish in the fact that unlike most American 6 year olds, Babu does not ever complain about standing around in the hot sun while I crawl around on piles of shoes and he never once begs to buy everything in the market.
We all walk through the expansive outdoor market and visit the different sections. There is the shoe area, clothing section, rice/beans pile, cassava piles and open field of cows and goats being sold. Amir and I decided that we were going to give goats as a gift for an upcoming wedding we were invited to. I am giddy at the thought of attending a local Tanzanian wedding and even more giddy about bringing a traditional gift. Since we wait til the end of the day to buy the goat, they ran out of female goats, which apparently everybody wants. Amir and I both look at this cute baby goat that’s cow colored and say “aww” at the same time. Then Killion says that the only female goat left has a kid and that for 6,000 Tsh more ($4 USD), we can have both the mom and the kid which happens to be the cow colored baby. So at the end of the market day, I have a goat and a kid, an actual African child, Killion, a huge bag filled with 14 pairs of shoes, 4 school uniforms, a bag of groceries and no ride home since we walked to Obwiri this morning. At first we start to walk back but the baby goat runs amuck, the mom goat tugs and is disobedient to Amir, Babu is taunting the big goat and we have way too much stuff. So then we grab a motorcycle with a red wagon on the back. It reminds me of a Flyer red wagon but grown-up version. After putting both goats in, the baby goat decides to jump out and run around. After nearly getting hit by a car, the baby goat is finally caught by locals that find the whole scenario amusing. The bumpy ride home leads us to the hostel where we tie the goat up and walk Babu to give food to Teresa. I felt pretty accomplished after the market today.
I listen to the pouring rain right now as the electricity is out for the night. Usually I love the rain and always have the urge to run in it or even dance when given the chance after a hot day, but am feeling guilty for enjoying the awesome downpour. I think about how Lucia, Teresa and Anejlina struggling in their huts with the holes in their roof and wonder how they sleep while being rained on.
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