Culture Spotlight: AFRICA

Imagining what Africa is like and actually visiting Africa... COMPLETELY different. Okay, maybe I was half expecting to see elephants and giraffes walking around like they own the place. I guess I was a little disappointed that I did not have to frantically run away from a lion.

My family and I traveled to this little city in Tunisia called Sidi Bou Said. Out at the market, we came across a variety of vendors on both sides of this tiny little street. We soon found ourselves in a traditional rug store. While they served us tea and coffee, we listened to their sales pitch for the rugs. keep in mind it is about 200 degrees out. The hot tea on my lips was no refreshing kool-aid feeling; that's for sure. A dozen men came out of this tiny back room, throwing carpets up in the air and unrolling them down at our feet. With all of them rolled out like that, I felt as if I could climb on one and fly across the room.

But before I made my attempt to fly, they began explaining how the carpets are made. It's unbelievable how long it takes to weave each carpet. It takes over a year and the weavers only get paid a few dollars an hour. Towards the end of our tour in the rug shop, the rug shop owner took us up to the roof to get a view of the city. All around me were miles and miles of homes. We're not talking your little shingled, "Leave It to Beaver" style rooftops. These were white, flat and covered in colorful hand woven carpets. That was one thing that really caught my attention in Tunisia, all of the vibrant colors. Each house or business had an elaborate, colorful door. The buildings, made of stark white stucco, contrasted these colors making the sight of the rooftops even more dazzling. It was really nice not having all these huge metropolitan buildings surrounding me. It gives you the feeling of being more connected with the town, and not just some little flea.

I went up to the front of another store to look at a bracelet. A salesman came up to me and started talking about it. I'm still not exactly sure what he was saying to me, but soon he was grabbing me by the hand and taking me into the store to this glass case. He started putting all of these bracelets on my wrist as if I already owned them. I told him I was interested in getting one of them. He told me it was $30. I just stood there looking at him. He looked at me as if he were thinking to himself, "Great! I had to go and pick the American." Then he drops it to $8 for two. I'm thinking, "Man, I'm like pro at this bartering thing! All I have to do is stand here." He then started to pull more bracelets off the shelf and asking me if I liked them. I told him they're pretty and then out of nowhere he just started putting them in my purse. Then he started this little skit as though I was trying to bargain with him and he won't go lower than $50. Then whispered to me, "Shhh don't let my boss see. He wouldn't let me do such." I just laughed and walked away thinking, "What could happen next?"

It was not until the end of the day that my question was answered. As my family and I were walking back to the bus, a guy came up to my dad and started talking to him in a different language while pointing at me. Our tour guide cracked up. He tells my dad, "You just got offered 2,000 camels for your daughter." For some reason, that just happened to be hilarious to everyone, especially my dad. I glared at him and got on the bus... listening to him loudly contemplate all he could do with 2,000 camels. "I can't start a touring business back at home. Come ride camels on the beach!" Uh huh. Well they obviously still have the whole dowry thing going. I'm so glad to have been compared to the value of a camel.

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