After feeling a little bored and lonely being in the
house this afternoon, I still wasn't looking forward to going into town. Two of
the supermarkets I wanted to hit up and the "real" market are on
Market Street (original name). This street is always crowded with people on
bikes, motorcycles, and on foot carrying bunches of matooke (a type of bananas)
on their head, big trucks, people selling dried fish spread out on tarps. I
don't even like walking down this street. So, trying to navigate it on Linda's
bike (which the basket keeps falling off to the side bring the front wheel
almost to a stop) stresses me out a little. There have been a few times when
just pushing off I've almost hit other bikers. And finding a place to lock it
up can be hit or miss. When I go to OM Supermarket, the guard just watches it
for me because there isn't anything to tie it to. Yesterday, I asked the staff
at the Landmark Hotel if I could keep it there while I ran across the street
into the market. The receptionist had some guy in an alley watch it for me. It
worked out well yesterday, but he wasn't there today. So, a different guy was
at the front desk and he just let me lock it to the rail. Why I couldn't do
that yesterday, I'm not sure. TIA.
Going to the market by myself yesterday (without
Linda's navigation) was kind of a big accomplishment to me. I don't know why,
but vegetable/fruit/meat markets like that overwhelm me a little. But touristy,
souvenir, clothing, houseware markets don't bother me. I can't explain it. I'm
weird. The first time I went into this market with Linda, someone drove a
motorcycle in the main entrance! Another time, someone on a bike with an
oversized load went through the same entrance. I feel like it's so easy to get
pushed around in that area. Although it's technically outside, it's so densely
packed, that it's a little dark.
But Juliet made it worthwhile. She is the vendor
whom Linda usually buys veggies from. Juliet made me sit down so she could dole
out advice on how I need to start "producing". Here's the highlights
of our conversation:
J: Do you have children? Are you married?
A: No. I'm too busy and there are enough people in the
world.
J: (Touching my stomach) But you need a child in your
womb. For memories.
A: Ok, good point about the memories.
J: You sit down!
A: Ok, just for a minute or two.
J: No, you sit for 5 minutes, 10 minutes.
A: Yes, ma'am.
J: You need to marry an African man so you can stay here
and teach us about malaria.
A: Well, you just need to sleep under a net. There! Now
you know!
J: No, you need to stay here. Buy these things (pointing
to the vegetables around us) and eat them.
A: But, if I have children, I want to have them in
America.
J: You conceive here, then go to America to give birth.
A: But just one way to America is almost $2000.
J: How much is that in shillings?
A: (After calculating it on my cell phone) That's 480,000
shillings. I"m a volunteer and can't afford that.
J: You will have a good paying job after this.
A: Yes, but I want to keep working in places like Uganda,
so I won't make much money.
Juliet is only twenty and already has two kids. The
oldest is seven. She didn't finish high school, but I commended her on having
her little business at the market. A few women with babies tied to their back
started listening and laughing at our conversation.
She had a counterpoint to everything!!
Even though I know I'll get more unsolicited advice
about my reproductive health, I'll keep going back to her because the amusement
is definitely good for my mental health.
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