“The Market”

When Alison and I are done for the day, we will sometimes make our way to the market before heading back to the volunteers’ home…this can be an interesting walk!   As we pass by, little children will sometimes call out to us with smiles on their faces, “Mzungu! How are you?”  Today, actually, at the time of this writing, a child from the nearby village waved us over…we did not go as we felt that this would be inappropriate unless we were invited by the parents or guardians.

At the market, you’ll find all sorts of merchandise; from clothing articles and toys, to hardware items like locks, nails and machete’s; from locally grown food to locally made tools for agricultural use.  We go to the fruits and veggie section of the market.  If the produce price seems a little high, sometimes, you will be able to barter until there is an agreeable price.  The going price for a pineapple is three thousand shillings here in Gulu (This is roughly about $1.50 a pineapple).  The pineapple is sooo good compared with the pineapple that we’ve had back home.  They are very delicious and so sweet!  The avocado here in Uganda is also grander in size.

Just the other day we had a memorable moment happen at the market.  As we arrived, the clouds had already darkened to a very dark color; we both knew that we would get caught in the rain.  Sure enough, just before we left, the rain came in torrents!  We, with other shoppers, were trapped under the adjoining shelters erected by the local merchants.  As everybody was waiting for the downpour to subside, this ginormous rat came running in from the rain to find shelter as we were, and everybody freaked out!  In retrospect, it was so funny because the merchant that we had made small talk with while waiting for the rain to calm down all of a sudden got this most surprised smiling expression on his face covering his mouth with his hand and simultaneously motioning with his other hand for people to look… but it was too late.  This 10-12 inch rat scurried just past our feet!  Pretty much everybody in our row was either yelling, balancing on one foot or had hopped to the side as far as they could go…clearing a pathway for it!  LOL.  After the rat ran through, people were laughing…probably at the reaction that was given! :-D. This definitely was a funny and memorable moment for me and I’m sure I will have many more to share by the time this trip is over.  Til next time,

~Lawrence.