So I have participated in Market Friday occasionally in the past, and I've been meaning to come on back for the longest time. I absolutely love that @dswigle runs this every week and encourages people to share what it is like to go to markets in their areas, all over the world.
(In case you are not aware of how awesome @dswigle is or how much she does for the community, you can see my tribute post here.)
These days, I don't go to very many markets! And I can't wait until this pandemic is over so I can!
Market in Jamaica
I was thinking today about a beautiful outdoor market I visited in Jamaica a few years ago, when I was there with my daughter and some of our friends doing a service project. We were helping some members of a Catholic church to build homes, and we brought supplies for a small medical center run by the nuns. The church is doing amazing work there to support the community!
At any rate, one of the nuns chaperoned us to a local market one day. She was very clear about the "do's and don'ts" as tourists so we understood how to stay out of trouble. I tried very hard to take pictures without being an obtrusive tourist, but this man missed nothing, and decided to be my subject.
Here was the sister, our guide, haggling over prices with one of the sellers.
I loved the market, and was so amazed by the towering piles of vegetables. It was a beautiful but hot day in March and we kept gravitating toward the stalls that had tarps overhead, put there to shade the vendors and shelter them from the rain.
However, my best pictures were of the vegetable displays out in the bright sun.
Jamaicans know how to make amazing food, and often have little to work with.
One day, we were finishing the home we were building for a family that had been living in makeshift quarters built with corrugated plastic and other temporary materials. The mother of the family made us all a big traditional Jamaican meal on her tiny stove in her tiny makeshift home. She made a gigantic pot of rice, and a long-simmered spicy chicken and vegetable stew. (I'm pretty sure the chicken was strutting around in the yard earlier that day.) It was one of the best things I have ever eaten in my life, and my mouth waters when I think of it.
That is me on the right, making myself somewhat useful.
I think of her now, with her gaggle of adorable kids, living in the sturdy little home we built, finally able to have real shelter from the elements, and it warms my heart.
My daughter and her friend fell in love with the children and would have brought them home, if allowed.
Thank you for visiting my MarketFriday post!
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You must haggle in most places! It is expected and they think you are crazy if you don't. :)) We must teach you the art of haggling. I am a top-notch haggler. I once got a traditional woven blanket in Mexico for $3 the seller followed me all the way down the street with it.
What a wonderful adventure! I love mission trips! However, I have been to Jamaica many times and the one thing I can say is that most people do not know the country. At all. It is so poor, most people in the US can't grasp that type of poor. It is hard to see poor people from Resorts. Most who go to resorts don't leave them unless it is a chaperoned trip to somewhere. I applaud you for what you and your daughter (and friend) have done. Many of the people have taken to stealing and robbing people, but, honestly, it has to be hard for them to have Westerners throwing money around in their faces, wasting food, etc and they are still wondering where their next meal is coming from. BTW.. the chicken probably did come from there, they have free-roaming chickens like we have cats. They belong to nobody. :)
Most vendors do not want you to take pictures of their wares. If you take their picture, some may want you to pay for it. Life is tough there! I am so happy to see you and I am truly impressed with your adventure!!! Thank you for providing different elements to the cultural exchange we provide here. I can say that so many people are now enjoying not only the markets and places visited, but the different cultures than their own, showing off how we are so different, but, also, showing how many things we have in common. I appreciate the love and support you give to #MarketFriday! I feel like we are getting a core group that enjoys sharing their life and the different ways of life, which is great! I absolutely love it! It warms my heart to see that you chose to be a part of this challenge. It is people such as yourself that make is so successful! Thank you! Truly! Your participation adds a unique flavor to the mix. I just love clicking on the link and having a new world open up, right before my very eyes! Thank you again for being a part of all this! I hope you have a lovely weekend!
Fridays are all about the #MarketFriday Challenge! Looking to take part in it? Here is how:
How to Participate:
Go to the market! Any market will do! Food, clothing, plant, or animal, if you wish. You can go to the zoo, an art auction, and restaurants. Anywhere or anything that you pay money for any kind of service.
Take pictures! Be creative! It’s fun!
Tell us a little bit about the market, what brought you here?
Post the picture.(s)
Don’t forget to use the MarketFriday Community #196308 to post from or hashtag it! #MarketFriday by @dswigle If you hashtag it, drop the link to your post here so I can easily find them.
As always, please remember! #MarketFriday loves you!
Upped and reposted
!tip .20
Yes, you nailed it, @dswigle. It is a type of poverty that claims the very soul. I have no other explanation or way to describe it. The circumstances of that poverty are complex, and that is the saddest of all. People have become despondent, dependent, and unable to do for themselves.
I was incredible impressed with the Catholic church there. The focus is on teaching independence and providing the means for people to achieve that. They provide sewing classes, for example, so families can earn by creating clothes and crafts and providing mending services.
Yes, I agree that #MarketFriday is a wonderful portal to the markets we could experience if we could simply flit about, worldwide. It gives us a chance to see what is beyond our limited vision! I'm so glad that a community is growing up around this. xoxoxo
Me too! I like the fact that the Catholic Church is teaching them how to fish, thus giving them the means to feed themselves. Being dependent creates a problem all in itself. We are partially responsible for that in some places as we feel bad, and like a parent, wanting to fix everything. But, that is not the answer and many people do not see it that way.
Thanks so much again! I loved your post!
I LOVE going to open markets in Vietnam. The fruit and vegetables are always fresher and cheaper than the "western" grocery store. Plus, I get to practice haggling with the vendors. I don't think I ever get a fair price, but I still get a kick out of it.
Unfortunately, I prefer to stay away now, because they can get a little crowded.
I wish I could get the hang of haggling. I have friends who swear it is the only way to do business in certain places around the world, but I have not mastered it!
Very beautiful story full of actions towards the others, the photos are spectacular, a real waste of colors, best regards...✌️
Thank you for your kind thoughts!
Very nice photos and looks to have been a great experience! Nice to help others...
Thank you, @chrisinphuket. Yes, I love to do service projects. If I could afford to do so, I would quit my job and just do that!
Nice Market Friday in Jamaica photography.
Thank you very much!
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