A Morning in the Marketplace

We drove to Choma today to see the town and stores. There were people everywhere in every direction we looked. And in every direction that we looked, there was at least two or more people looking back at us with curiosity. I was in a group of five along with an instructor, so I was not alone as I walked through the crowded streets. The non-verbal communication was that of smiles and nods. Our instructor told us that if the people look at you and are not smiling, it is because they are trying to understand what mood you are in. But, if you smile back at them when they look at you, they will return the smile. Which is what we did and we were met with a gleam of shining pearly whites.

There was the main road that was sometimes paved, but most of the time it was dirt, and then there were little 'alleyways' where three or four people could fit across it shoulder-to-shoulder. But, these little alleyways were crowded enough that you had to twist sideways to avoid people.

There was so many products being sold in the marketplace. All types of fishes, some that looked like minows and others that looked like salmon and bluegill. I do not know any of their real names, though. But there was a lot of those little minow-like fishes everywhere. They are as dry and flat as potatoe chips. There was also fabrics to make chetinge's, bags, and clothing from. Necklaces, bracelets, shoes, groceries. Anything you can think of they had. They even had a place where they exchanged flat tires or fixed flat tires for vehicles. And a car wash (there were three cars underneath a straw roof held up by carved limbs of wood and people washing them with rags and soap).

Interesting thing about cell-phones: my instructor told us that Zambians use cell-phones, but normally do not talk on them; they text. There were little stalls all over the streets where people could plug in their cell-phones to charge them because a lot of people do not have chargers, just the cell-phone.

Many people we passed shouted, "Magua! Magua!" as a greeting and was said excitedly as we passed by, and people would smile back at us when we smiled at them. Even when they were straight-faced and we smiled at them first, their face and eyes would just light up with their smile.

There is no such thing as Wal-Mart, Target, K-Mart, or any of the fast food restaurants that we are used to in the U.S. The Wal-Mart's name is called Spar, and there are a lot of little restaurants. It was a great experience. It helped to be in a group of five other people because it helped make me more confident and less self-concious. Overall, think hot and breezy with no humidity, and people walking, standing, and driving all around you. A busy place, the market place!