oh, niamey

Today, I traverse through a typical open-air market ducking away from the persistent vendors who associate my skin color with money. I just want to get what I need and leave. Today just the basics: rice, maca, tomato paste cans, garlic, maybe some onions if I get a good price, they are expensive this time of year. Do I want your cheap watch? No. The Barack Obama Flip-flops? Tempting but not for that price… And no I dont want to take your child to America with me. The afternoon heat is suffocating as I rush to get my errands done so I can go to the pool. I hail a taxi and make it to Niger’s little piece of America. The American school Rec center only 1 mil cfa to swim and watch TV. In the A.C. I buy a milkshake and an overpriced chicken Cesar salad or cheeseburger. Here I can through my Nigerianane acquired modesty to the wind and jump carefree into the chlorinated water.