Are You Warm Enough?

Today was a crazy, hectic lovely day. I'm not sure if there is anything else when you're surrounded by 7 kids ;).

The kids had off of school for a holiday, so we took Eddah and Vinicinet with us to go clothes shopping for the whole house. They have never gotten to pick out their own clothes before, so I thought it would be fun. The little ones did not come since that would just be a circus ;). Now shopping in the market is a little different than what you may be picturing. (There are very few textile industries in Kenya, meaning there are almost no clothes made here, and very few clothing stores. This is mainly the result of the US sending over haybale-sized bundles of used clothing that are then resold in the local markets for 20-50 shillings a piece-which is between 25-75 cents. No clothing manufacturer can compete with those prices. But that's an Econ lesson for another day........).

(Karen and Eddah on the search for a multitude of sizes)

The market has a feeling similar to an auction-for you fellow treasure hunters out there-both in the noise and the thrill of the hunt. There's people all around you also shopping from a large heap of clothes, so you have to be quick and not claustrophobic. Our mission was 7 pairs of shoes, lots of socks and underwear, and jackets for everyone. I struggled to understand why we needed heavy duty jackets for the balmy 68 degree nights, but I was overpowered by 7 little sets of eyes telling me it got so very cold at night ;)

(Eddah, Vinicent and I shopping for shoes)

Eddah and I started in the shoes area, found everyone's sizes and had them tucked away in our backpacks before setting out into the clothing section of the market. Vinicinet was absolutely no help, but what did I expect from a 13 yr old boy, right? He did manage to find a jacket that he absolutely loved. It was the type of jacket you'd see on someone heading out on an arctic expedition, but he would not be dissuaded. I ended up over-paying for it since I couldn't get the guy to bargain down much, but that probably had to do with the fact that I was white and Vinicent was already wearing the coat and absolutely beaming. Oh well.

(I use a very official method for determining the kids sizes......)

(Jacky, Eddah, and Anne)

(Notice all the other kids are in shorts/t-shirts, but Arnold could not be wrestled out of his new jacket:)

The little kiddos were delighted with their jackets as well. Arnold also proceeded to wear his jacket, over his shorts and t shirt, for the rest of the day. When I asked if he was hot he vehemently shook his head.......I was hesitant to believe him though when the sweat started to bead up on his forehead. I started asking him, "are you warm enough?" and he would break out into his little gap-toothed grin and dash out of my arms reach, and I just couldn't make him take it off. Oh well, I just made him drink more water so he wouldn't get dehydrated ;). I did take it off him after he fell asleep, just for the record.

(Daniel and Naomi watching the rest of the jacket distribution)

Best shopping day I've ever had ;)

Jessie

 

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