sell to survive

We were now right in the midst of city life, and with the city come thirsty vendors, and begging children. There were cats and dogs running throughout the streets. I walked around with eyes wide open, trying to take every second of it in. The men shop owners began to approach the group of dazed Americans, and from there on we were sucked in, and unable to find a way out. The shop owners here have small hut like buildings that are about 4 feet deep and 3 feet wide, and filled with beautiful handmade gifts of all kinds- painting, jewelry, clothing, carved woods, wonderful things.  Yet the difference in sales strategies is immense, but one must take into account that it is the difference between desperation and greed. These men would bring you into there shop and persuade you with any means to buy something, they would say just look just look, and then try to get anything out of you. They make it extremely difficult to say no, especially when you know that any thing they sell, is sold to support their families. You bargain everything here, you never pay full price, and these people will take even the lowest prices at the end, because they truly need any amount of income they can get. Pape (pop) our Senegalese friend did all of this for us, he is amazing. When one stops to really reflect on these things, it is really sad. But here you can’t really reflect on these things too much, or you would spend the whole time here depressed. 

The hardest part of all of this for me is the little children walking around with their tin cans, and holding their hand out to you. These children have broken shoes and dirty clothing, and their ages range from 3 years old to 13 years, no parents in sight. It is hard to comprehend that even though I have so much more than these children, I still cannot give money to every child, because there are so many, and one would go broke very quickly.  But they are so grateful for everything they get, one thing that separates these people, these children; from American people and children. The word ungrateful doesn’t seem to exist in this country. One of the girls here was so smart; she gathered a bunch of toys and candy from home and brought it here. Instead of money she gave these to the children, and I don’t think I have ever seen a child’s face light up so much. I swear they were happier to get toys and candy than money, because it is a treat to them. You saw the kids playing with their toy cars on the ground, flying their batman through the air, just ecstatic to have a toy.  After a long day of shopping and being surrounded by shop owners, and children;we hopped on the bus to go home, I wont mention the excitement of the roads and public transportation just yet, more stories to come.