So last month, I shared what all is going on inside the compound where I live in Bujumbura, Burundi. In this blog, I’d like to give a little taste of what is going on outside the compound. Let’s walk outside the gate of the compound and see!
The first thing you see is the dirt road and ditches. Because of the heavy rains half of the year, the roads all have pretty deep ditches. You might even find a chicken hanging out in the ditch! In certain areas, where there is water in the ditch, I see a lot of bicycle taxi drivers washing their bikes in it.
When you get to the main street, you start to sense a different feel outside the compound. I would describe it as a survivalist attitude. Many people trying to get by.
Emma, who is from Northern Ireland and also here for the year (teaching 5th grade) is showing you our favorite kiosk outside the compound. You look in at the items, and do a lot of pointing and communicating with mime if you don’t know the language, but hey-it works!
It also has a lovely gate that we noticed once our sensory overload out here settled down (LOTS of traffic and noise)!
There are motorcycle shops across the street with a lot of men hanging around, and they like to watch the two white women everywhere we go. People actually say, “Wazungus” everywhere we go–which is a word for white people, and has a connotation of white wealthy. They often charge us more for everything, as nothing has a price tag. We often hear laughter from the crowd that follows us as we buy stuff.
There are many shops down the street. Virtually every window or door that opens to the street is a small shop.
You will see motorcycle taxis, and bicycle taxis too–the man on the back of the bike below has paid for a ride across town.
Below is a market that Emma and I visited today–Siyoni. It reminds me a bit of a flea market in the states…many booths with various items for sale. One has a booth with kitchen goods while the next one has hardware–wrenches and such. Down further is drinks. The noise level here is pretty high.
We actually came down here to buy some fabric, and I enjoyed seeing all the beautiful handiwork of already created clothing. You can pay a tailor to make any style you want–just show them a picture, or mime it out. They are extremely gifted!
This picture made me laugh–it’s a Salon, not a saloon!
There is one place I am thinking about going to for a tea or something…it is down the street from the compound (second floor in the picture below). Emma and I may try it once, but because white women on this street are a novelty, we may get too large of a crowd watching us…
The truth is, until I learn more of the language, I am blocked from really having meaningful conversations with the people who live and work on this street. I am taking lessons, but it is slow learning.
There is also a beautiful tourist side of Bujumbura too…along the lake Tanganyika. That’s it for the tour outside the compound at this point–hope you enjoyed it and get a feel for what it’s like here!
Burundi Joy 