I go shopping

We stopped for lunch at a complex that offered locally made carvings, curios, and such. Even though my apartment is overrun with knicknacks, I managed to buy a small wooden bowl.

My main reason for coming within range of the shopkeeper was to get a sense of the value I should declare to US Customs for a wooden spoon/fork set I was given by the dear people at Kwa Thema (I ended up guessing $5).

The artisan/shopkeeper was a master of his calling, and I ended up negotiating for a small bowl. It came down to 120 Rand. I'm sure that a better negotiator could have gotten it for less, but I felt ok with it. Poor as I am by American standards, I wasn't prepared to quibble with this hard-working African over two dollars or something. I like the idea that he got the sense of triumph over the fat, silly American.