A saturday of tourture

Harriette asked me in passing if I would come with her on Saturday to a outside market so she can sell some of her products. I said okay not actually thinking of what that would entail. Friday when she reminded me she said I should be ready at 7:45 a.m. What?!...What?! Can you say that again, 7:45 a.m on a saturday? To be ready at that time I have to wake up at 6 to turn the water heater on because it takes an hour to heat up. I had already said yes so I couldn't back out even though the more I thougt about it the more I didnt want to do it.

On friday night I didn't even go till sleep until 12 so I was exhausted when I woke up. Somehow I managed to be ready in time and we went to Karen for the market which was at a school. There was a lot of trafic as we got close and it was chaotic as we pulled in to unload all her stuff. Right away I knew that we had stumbled upon an American enclave. Americans were everywhere I didn't realize there were so many Americans in Kenya. Harriette owns a company called African Arts Products and she was selling some magnets, air freshners and luggage tags with the Kenyan flag. Also, some coasters, placemats and a memory game with African designs on them. After we set up some Harriette, she went with her friend Goodie who was sharing the booth with us to browse all the stands. So I was left alone to watch over Harriettes stuff and Esther was watching Goodies. I am not a natural saleswoman, and as people were walking by I was awkwardly saying hi and not knowing what to say when people would stop and look. When Harriette finally came back from browsing I felt like she had been gone for an eternity when it had only been about 45 minutes. I finally got a chance to look around with Esther. I had imagined the market was nice like Masai Market but what I realized as I was browsing was it was a yard sale. Most of the stuff was old books and clothes for like 100 shillings, definietly not like the nice stuff Harriette and Goodie had. There went many people who bought anything, only about 3 people in 4 hours. For most of the time I was sitting in the grass regretting the decision I made to wear a swaeter as I slow roasted in the sun. It was so hot, seriously, I was baking, not fun at all. Even though the time went by very slowly the day did morning did end and as soon as I went home I went straight to bed to go to sleep. I should start thinking of a good excuse to use for when Harritte asks me to do it again.