The Market

You can purchase live goats or butchered goats both at the market.  This is in addition to the chickens and all kinds of seafood.  I wonder if he will put that goat in his trunk like the lady did with the live chicken I saw in December.  I don't feel comfortable eating the seafood here because of the dirty river water with the visible trash and oil drilling platforms. 

The man below is selling a butchered goat piece by piece.  The severed head is on the right side of the table unskinned.  I don't even want to know why it is still on the table.  Did you notice the pineapples for sale right next to the raw meat?  My camera did not capture the fly but they were everywhere. 

The man below is carrying the books he is selling all on his head.  In addition to the booths in the open air market there are also traveling peddlers for everything.  We even regularly see men carrying sewing machines in case someone needs something mended.  Knife sharpeners, snacks, watches, phone cards, peeled oranges, etc are just to name a few.

I haven't seen a vehicle here that has not been in some sort of crash.  I saw the bumper below in the market parking lot.  We have personally witnessed several accidents.  Even though the busy arterial thoroughfares have lane markings people drive on the lines, on the shoulder and the sidewalks.  A two lane road usually has three lanes of automobiles traveling on it.  They honk to let you know they are coming close rather than use blinkers.  There are no speed limit signs and everyone ignores the few traffic lights and even fewer stop signs.  We personally know of five people who have been killed since we arrived associated with our school.  I believe traffic accidents are the number one danger here.  We have been in so many near misses.  Most teachers refuse to sit in the front seat of the van.  It is just too stressful.  Our driver is amazing how he can weave in and out of close corners and thread a needle with the school van.  We thank him everyday for keeping us safe.  But even more importantly we thank God for watching over us.  This is a dangerous place but we know we are in His merciful hands.

Little fellow you can run but you cannot hide.  He likes to think we don't know he is behind the curtains.  We tolerate him but he is going to have to grow before he can hunt cockroaches.  This little gecko is only about two inches long.  His body is nearly transparent.  I watch for him with my eagle eyes so he doesn't startle me.