Exploring

Over the last few days I have been exploring the city. I don't know a lot of the details but I thought I would record some of my impressions and so forth. The first thing that I noticed, having been in other major third world cities, is that the traffic here is surprisingly regulated. That is to say, you aren't going to get run down immediately if you don't look where you are going. There are a lot of cars, but even more mini-buses which serve as taxis. There are almost no motorcycles and no rickshaws or three wheelers at all. There is a lot of pollution. Everything runs on diesel, is old, and there is nothing close to smog checks.

 

Almost every street you walk down is lined with people selling all sorts of small goods, from food to wallets to candy to used auto parts. Its like a giant market. There are bigger shops as well, and certain areas are definitely more commercial. Everything not meant for tourists is dirt cheap. Taking a mini-bus around costs 7 cents. A shoe shine (sometimes a must before teaching, because of the mud) is about 10 cents. A loaf of bread is about 35 cents, and is fresh baked. Meals out are usually between 2 and 4 dollars. There are beggars everywhere, which is a difficulty, because one doesn't really know what to do. Being white, I stick out like a sore thumb and many people shout and me, try to talk to me, and harass me in general. The best response is to ignore them.

 

There seem to be the regular type of street people here, those who we are used to in the US. But there are also a lot of people with severe disabilities. These are prominently displayed. There are amputees, blind, deaf, crazy, deformed, polio victims, cripples, people with elephantitis, and so forth. It is possible to buy little books of meal tickets to various shelters. These seem to be the best way to show compassion, but guarantee that it is going to be helpful. Mixed in amongst the real need are a host of conartists.

 

My GPS device has been very helpful. Instead of sticking to the main roads, I can cut through back streets and alleys to really get a look at the "real" city. Most of the back ways are cobblestoned, lined with houses and shops built of corrugated metal or plastic. There are even smaller walkways that no car could fit down. I don't think I will venture into these areas. There are two fears: one is that I will get robbed, the other is that my presence would cause offense of distress. The smaller, back streets are where one gets the really interesting sights, sounds, and smells.

 

Tomorrow we may take a bus trip around the city. Its horribly touristy, but many of the things on the tour are out of walking distance. Perhaps the bus trip will give me the courage to revisit some of the sites later.

 

I finished my first week of class. Everything is going great.