Well, I promptly dropped my samoosa on the floor, spilling spiced beef everywhere, all over the pristine white floor. I saw that as my cue to leave, and headed down to the church.
This morning I was cooking for the street kids. I forgot all about it last week, so it was my first time seeing everyone again after Christmas. I also forgot how much I love sorting rice. I love it very much. It's my favourite thing to do at half past seven in the morning.
(photo: Karyn Makins)After my lunch of rice and beans, I went to Bourbon for a drink. I also had some banana bread. This was a bad idea, as I was still very full from lunch. But I pushed through and finished it. If I learnt anything from Year of Training it's perseverance.
Then this afternoon we went on an adventure. Dora and I have decided that to have such a big garden and no animals would be a waste, so we're going to buy a puppy and a baby goat (I know they're called kids but I didn't have to give anyone the wrong idea!) I asked my friend Patrick to come with me, because I didn't think it would be a good idea for a muzungu to go animal shopping on her own. Dora doesn't even let me buy fruit on my own. We went to Nyabugogo market, shopping central of Kigali, the most stressful place on earth.
First for the puppy. We'd been assured that we could get a mongrel for about £40, but when we got there, they said the cheapest dogs they had were £120. I know that in the UK it's much more expensive, but I still don't have that sort of money. I think they put the price up when I asked if their monkeys were for sale. But they were very cute monkeys, and I think it was worth the risk. Opportunity cost.
Then for the goat. But the time we arrived, the goat market was closed for the day, but the shepherd boys ran off to get a goat that matched my description. Small, black and white, cute. Even with Patrick in the car, I felt very uncomfortable in Nyabugogo. People surrounded the car, children pressed their faces against the windows, and put their hands in asking for money and sweets. Then the shepherds arrived demanding money for the goats they brought us. Well, honestly, I felt that their customer service was very bad, so I refused the sale. This did not go down well. Things got a bit dicey towards the end, until the driver came and rescued us. Still people crowded around the car, and he had no choice but to drive into them.
Hopes fading, I had a thought – maybe I could buy a goat from the goat family. They have goats for sure, but I didn't know if they would have any baby goats left. When we arrived at the house, all the kids ran over to us shouting 'Nicoley, Nicoley' and gave me big hugs and high fives. Then we saw the goats. They were of a monstrous proportion, the size of small horses. And I want a baby goat. One that is cute and fluffy and light enough to hold. So we dropped Patrick off and I went back into town to wait for Dora. Deflated, I went back to Bourbon and bought a chocolatey drink. That night I went home with no puppy and no goat, and wept myself to sleep.
I didn't, but I want you to fully comprehend the sadness that was in my heart.
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