Market day always leaves me on overload. There are so many amazing things to see, hear, taste, smell and do -- including, today, diving into a crowd of shoppers to avoid being trampled by bulls. Six of them, in fact. The critters had been startled by a passing lorry, broke loose from their tether, and thundered in a red cloud of dust straight for Emmah and me.
Upon our escape, amidst much relieved laughter ("Aiyeee, Mzungu!"), we resumed shopping. Actually, Emmah resumed shopping. I was too distracted by the myriad of stalls selling everything from beautiful beans and millet, to fresh fruits and aromatic spices, to mahindi/grilled corn, to pilipili-hoho (green peppers-haha/no heat), to used Goodyear tires, to cheap Chinese hardware, to kukus/chickens and wabuzi/goats -- both "before" and "after" (edible) varieties -- to be of any help to her.
Carlos, a visiting physician from Peru, via the University of Tennessee, is now busy making guacamole with the fresh avocados (7 cents each) and tomatoes (half of that) he bought this morning. His recipe rivals even the Hardisons'. A mission hospital in rural Kenya can be a very cosmopolitan place! Soon it will be back to our simple, but no less stimulating, world of afternoon rounds. If this is Monday, it must be Maseno...
6 comments:
And I thought downtown Edgartown in August was overload! Of course, we substitute tourists for the bulls -- though we love them.
Can't wait to see your "smart Kenyan dress." Taylor and Abbey are off in just 3 weeks -- and you will be here in just about 3 more after that! Time is flying by.
Love.
Love your word picture of Market Day! It left me daydreaming about all the European ones by which I've been distracted so happily Our own little Farmers' Market at Crystal Spring Farm is evolving nicely this year, sort of a tiny Common Ground Fair flavor. Think I need to go make guacomole - but our avocados will cost more than yours!
H&L&B, n
ok....and what about those little fishy things??? Great "word picture" of the market!! And you do need a smart Kenyan dress. Blessings dear friend....
your WI friend, Nancy Rowe
Ah, yes, the unforgettable smell of "small feesh"! No wonder it stands out in your memory, Nancy R...Phew!
What a small world! Here I am doing research on Maseno for my boyfriend Dan, the physician who will be arriving from the University of Tennessee in October, and I get to read about Carlos! We were concerned, because we had not had an update from him since his arrival in Africa. The two of them are very good friends back home in Tennessee. Please tell Carlos that Dan and Bethany say 'hello' and that we hope he is doing well.
Thanks for absolutely making my day and enjoy the guacamole!
Bethany
Carlos and I say "Hola!" to you and Dan, too. Actually, so do all the kids in Maseno now... Carlos is an amazing teacher, physician and friend, as well as guacamole-maker! I'm just sorry I won't be here when Dan comes. We are all so grateful for the ongoing assistance from the University of Tennessee. You've made our day, too, Bethany. Asante sana!
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