The above is a typical scene in “downtown” Tala. Kids running around, goats eating the trash (or if they are lucky snitching some produce from a table!) bike taxis going to and fro, men pushing carts loaded with whatever they are selling (banana’s in this photo) and the individual shops open for business.
One day we needed an electrical strip. Now that sounds like a routine trip to town in order to purchase one, but not in Tala! Chuck and Gideon head to the electrical store (ha, I mean the electrical stall, it is by no means a “store”!) When they walk in it’s like walking into a shop from the mining days; gadgets hanging from the walls, all sorts of electrical parts under the counter and the owner behind the counter waiting for someone to step in and buy something.
Chuck looks around at what’s available but doesn’t see an electrical strip. He tells the owner what he is looking for, he goes to the back and comes out with an electrical strip. Chuck asks how much, he’s told 900ksh (shillings) and the strip is set on the counter. Then in a split second Gideon picks up the strip, says we’ll pay 750ksh and walks out the door with the strip!
Left standing between the owner and the door where Gideon just walked out is Chuck, looking quite bewildered. He looks at the owner, not sure of what just happened or if he’s going to be in trouble soon with local authorities. Gideon is now outside by the vehicle and says to Chuck – let’s go. Chuck then looks at the owner and says – 750ksh? The owner nods in agreement, Chuck pays and leaves the store!
We will get used to negotiating, but it’s a difficult concept for us (especially me) to wrap our heads around since most everything here in the States has a price tag and that’s the price you pay – no negotiating! In Tala, and most other places in Kenya, you negotiate. Whether it’s an avocado, bag of maize or electrical strip. I think that’s why I like going to the Acacia (our local grocery store) because things have a price and I don’t have to work at purchasing our items.
It says in the book of Luke “for the worker deserves his wages.” My prayer is to learn to negotiate, especially in Swahili, and be able to purchase necessities, at a fair price, with my neighbors at the local market!