Yesterday was a full experience. It seems that Sundays are a day for chores and shopping. The day started out slow; after waking up with the chickens it was a while until anyone else was moving. For breakfast we had donut like pastries and juice. After breakfast I spent my morning with the boys playing games while the girls did cleaning (laundry, dishes, etc). There are pretty distinct gender roles which is a bit hard for me to accept, but I’m sure as the days go on I’ll get used to the nuances of Tanzanian culture.
After midday passed and we had lunch, it was shopping time. 9 of us packed into a small hatchback—as a guest they gave me the front seat which forced 6 others to cram into the backseat. I will say the driving here is very nerve racking and a bit lawless. First of all, they drive on the left side, so it’s discombobulating to begin with, and then to make it worse no one follows any sort of traffic patterns. Not to mention the motorcycles that swerve and cut their way through the smallest gaps. A lot of the shopping we did was in markets—large outdoor settings with many vendors, either in a dirt lot or along the city streets. Buying something at these markets is a long process; you’re expected to bargain and negotiate to the penny. The markets were beautiful and busy and bright, but if I had to go get everyday essentials at places like this, I would get very overwhelmed. We also went to a mall and supermarket for some other goods. The prices seem to be about as much as one would pay in the US, tending to be cheaper but never more expensive. So it makes me wonder if at the markets people get better prices and deals, only going to supermarkets for necessities you can’t buy elsewhere. After the shopping we went to the barbershop. I didn’t get a haircut, I’m not brave enough yet, but at some point I know I will be due. For dinner we had Ugali, tilapia, and sour milk. I was a bit nervous about the sour milk, but it was pretty much a watery yogurt and very good with the tilapia.