Our next trip to the Sunday market, we are prepared. We have cheat sheets made up that convert varying amounts of kwacha to dollars so we can haggle with a little expertise. We had previously scoped out the wares and we are ready with our lists to take on the hawkers!
Excited to make our first purchase, the hawker tells us the price and we just say yes and pay it...so much for haggling, cheat sheets and lists! We are saavy shoppers though and return to the booth we visited last week where a gentleman has these handcrafted nativity scenes. A few of us purchase one and when it comes to my turn, they are out of the animal that goes in it. The gentleman say, "no problem, I will make you one, come back in 15 minutes." We came back an hour later and he still did not have it done. We shopped a little more and returned again. As we approached, the stall a gust of wind came and blew over a couple of tents, his included: fabric, tent poles, the tinkling of broken glass, displays upset, etc. He apologizes over and over and I tell him I'll be back.
After lunch, I stopped by the booth again and he is putting the animal together - wire, felt, cotton- which he is sewing up while I wait. Cool to see it being made. None of that "made in China" stuff for me!
Finished up the day with ice cream cones! Need I say more?
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