A trip to the market

Everyone kept mentioning how amazing the markets in Africa are, so I wanted to experience one for myself. We went to a local outdoor market that was just a short drive from the Village. To say the market was bustling is an understatement; it was swarming with people and lined with vendors selling fruits and vegetables, grains and every spice imaginable. American pop music was blaring in the background, while crowds of people negotiated for the best prices. Most of the vendors and customers were holding umbrellas to shelter themselves from the sun - I had forgotten my hat so I had to keep ducking into the shade! But looking at the view of the market from afar was almost like a painting – the market was bursting with the most vibrant colors!

It seemed as if there was an unlimited supply of sorghum (more on that later), beans, lentils and yes, frogs. Charlton, the Village Director of Programming, accompanied me and explained that just after it rains these frogs come out and for a limited time they are not poisonous to eat. As much as I love frog legs, I could not convince myself to try one that may or may not be poisonous!! I had to pass on that delicacy and the same went with the worms. As much as Charlton tried to convince me that they are a tasty local snack, I had to politely decline. The closest I have come to eating adventurously was in Mexico when I eat some fried ants and grasshoppers – chapulines!