to market, to market...

Our primary contact here has been one of the directors, who is Australian.  His sweet wife, Leisha, has been very helpful to me.  Last night she had several of us over for tea (you know, that meal that is at 5 o'clock, or so). Today, she invited me to tag along with her to the farmer's market. Really big help. I learned how to tell the difference between a "bus" and a "taxi". They may be the same make and model of mini van, but the "bus" always charges VU150, whereas the "taxi" charges whatever he feels like! For the return trip, I just have to tell the driver, "zone 2, SDA church" and that will get me home.

The market! The set up is very similar to what we had in Haiti... but infinitely cleaner! Fly situation nearly nonexistent. Though open sided, the floor is finished with white tile. Due to the nearly ever present moist earth (no time to dry between rain showers), there are all kinds of muddy tracks on the floor where the customers walk, but none of the garbage and downright sewage we've had dealt with in other countries.

The growers/sellers bring their produce in, be it one type or several, and set it on plywood "tables". The price is written on a small piece of torn corrugated cardboard and is placed next to pile of item to be sold. They stay until it is all sold, then go home. As a result, the market is open 'round the clock, except on Sundays. You often see them lying down behind their produce, napping between customers.