Market day today. Perhaps I can attempt to describe my experience: Malagasy people of all ages race up and down the streets. Some greet us as we pass, others just stare. When we take a side street the walk-ways become very narrow and we soon smell raw meat as we approach the butchers. The sight of the flies all over this meat is enough to make you a vegetarian- according to Stacy it's happened before to several missionaries. Men cut meat vigorously behind their cement counters and place it in piles in front of them: open for all to see, open for flies to attack.
After our brief stop buying meat, we continue through the narrow alley to the produce. At first sight there are women on either side, sitting on cement slabs with a tin roof overhead. Their produce is lined up neatly on plastic tarps and you immediately realize they're all selling the same exact items: tomatoes, onions, greens...
Continuing to a tiny shop with every item you could possibly imagine lining the walls and counters, the aisles become even narrower. You find yourself squeezed tightly to one side as other shoppers pass- those heading to your left and those heading in the opposite direction. One in the largest clearing of vendors, you see rows and rows of vendors with heir produce resting on narrow tables, as they sit on the ground. You are surrounded by noise: people bartering, babies crying, women chattering... and as you pass you feel as though everyone is looking at you- simply because you are white.
I cannot say going to market is my favorite activity, but it is good exposure and gives me a chance to see and meet people.
This afternoon Stacy and I had a little discussion facilitated and focused around the book, Through Her Eyes. This book gives different perspectives of missionary women and brings up a lot of good ideas and issues. Discussing with her made me realize there is still a lot John and I need to discuss about our future. I really enjoyed the time talking with her, though.
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