To the Market we Go!

On Saturday, Megan, Casey, Jayme, Gerda, and I went to the market in Lilongwi. The first part of this adventure was the minibus. Minibuses are much like a large cheap taxi. It is 100 kwacha one way (which is about $0.50). Jayme and I sat in the back of the 4 row minibus on a bench that wasn’t very well latched down. It felt like a 20 minute drive on the Indiana Jones ride at Disneyland. I said that to Jayme and the guy next to me started laughing a bit. Upon entering the town, we started walking to the chitenji (a native skirt-wrap) market. On our way, there was a guy in a minibus that gave me the “eyebrows” as I was walking. I thought I was free from him, yet there was traffic and we were walking fast so I ran into him again. This time I was presented with the “licking of the lips”. Megan got a kick out of this. I just starred at the ground.

When crossing the bridge over the river, we saw to our left several people washing their clothing and a market of some sorts. It was a gorgeous day and actually warm. We finally made our way to the market. I wish we were allowed to take pictures but apparently photos were frowned upon. We had to ask permission to take pictures. I will try my best to explain though. We entered a very narrow alley where little shops were on each side. After hanging a hard left, we followed Gerda down a long and narrow alley until to our left was a long open area of fabrics and sewing machines. Many faces smiled and welcomed us in to choose a chitenji. Walking through, I almost got smacked by an overly exuberant Malawian woman. To avoid the arm, I moved into a step that I did not realize there was causing me to almost fall on my face. Thankfully I caught myself and did not fall- that would have been a great memory lol. After going through different fabrics and designs, I settled on 2 chitenjis of my choice. Picture 3 rooms long of an area with about 50 types of fabric on each table and at least 2 people working each table. To each person, we were “my sister” and they were more than obliging to open up fabric and show you the design. After we all found what we were looking for, we backtracked to the beginning of the market where shops were on each side. The market was a convoluted area with several different areas (clothing, music/ technology, produce, fish, spices, food, baking goods. Initially, clothing was the main shops at the beginning, it soon blended into household items. This is where Megan and I bought out nsima spoons. Nsima is a local staple food- best described as a cream of wheat type of porridge yet made from corn. The spoon is a huge, thick wooden spoon. After the household items, it seemed that we went into the food area (I guess similar to our food court but not lol). This is where the market was more covered by overhead tents (thus was darker). This was my favorite part because there were big bags of flour, yeast, and sugar. Some coverings were lost and the bags began to hold spices. I wish I was able to take a picture because it was very picturesque. When we passed through the produce, I almost lost my footing once again due to the uneven ground because I was looking at a bunch of bananas that had a mutant banana (two bananas grew into one). Yes, I am easily sidetracked at times. After the produce, we came into the fish market. I was relieved that they sold fresh fish because the small markets in the town I am staying in only sell drying fish (which are kind of gross). I saw the largest catfish I have ever seen. It was almost as long as my leg (no kidding).
On our way back toward the wood market, we stopped off at a book store to buy a chicewa bible for Megan’s host family (when she stayed in the village for 10 days). On leaving the bookstore, we were walking and attacked by a dog (who fortunately had a muzzle). It was scary but funny at the same time. The dog leered toward Megan who jumped causing Jayme to jump into me and I jumped. We were all shocked yet after just continued to laugh about it. Not to mention the dog owner and people who witnessed it were rolling in laughter as well- probably thinking “azungu” (meaning “white people/foreigner”).

We finally reached the wood market, which is a place to definitely gird your loins. This market is where you have to barter for your price. Since we are white, they will always try to rip you off giving you the azungu price rather than the normal price. Gerda was amazing. She would not budge and that really helped Megan when buying gifts for friends and family back home. But in general, one (especially if you are white)is swarmed by the dealers there. I had people coming up and introducing themselves and asking me to come see their shops. I kindly said I was just looking and they would continue to show me all kinds of things while looking at what I had on me. They saw my watch and said “you come back and we trade”. Yet when they want to trade they still rip you off saying they will give you 200 kwacha for your watch (the equivalent of $1…when the watch was $45). It was definitely an experience that taught me that when I come back to buy things – 1) come with Gerda and 2) come with multiple people. Jayme, Casey, and I plan to come back with Gerda to shop soon in order to just to get it over and done with.

Overall it was a great adventure/day!

Stay tuned for when I go to the market!!

Things to look forward to: more on the crisis nursery, mobile clinic, safari trip, trip to the other crisis nursery, and Malawi Lake trip…..

Miss you all!! MUCH LOVE! <3