Some thoughts (rather a long read, sorry)

There is a girl who comes by our house periodically. She is somewhere between 10-13 years old—I would guess. She comes at various times during the day so I know she doesn't go to school. She doesn't speak more than a few words of French, so I know she hasn't ever gone to school, where kids normally learn French. She works really hard as well. This girl comes by our house, and any other house she feels like knocking on the door of, to buy bottles. She carries a very large aluminum basin on her head with glass whiskey and schnapps bottles and on that is a huge woven bag full of plastic bottles. I've helped her get it off her head, so I know it's heavy. When I have bottles to sell, I help her get her load off her head and set it in the sand before our front gate. Then I go get all the bottles I've collected. We then debate over the price.

Now here in Africa, one never accepts the first price. That's just the way it goes. Even if you end up paying about the same amount, you have to debate about it first. I have had times where I was willing to pay their asking price but debate anyway, 'cause that's just what you do—and I usually end up paying less.

Anyway, somehow, with this girl, I don't have much desire to try to get more money out of her. I always feel sorry for her. (Besides, she doesn't understand French and I don't understand Ewe—her language—so it's pretty useless to argue.) She usually pays me 75cfa for 3 big, 1.5 l, plastic water bottles and 50cfa for 2 smaller, 1 l , plastic water bottles. That equals around 15-20 cents USA. She will then sell these bottles to other people.

Sometimes I think about things I'd like to have but don't. Then people like this little girl come by and make me feel like a millionaire. This little girl works really hard walking miles each day from house to house buying bottles that she won't sell for a whole lot more than she bought them. It's hot here and her load gets pretty heavy. She, however, is trying to make a living. I don't know her circumstances. I have no idea where she lives and who she lives with. Most likely, she does this for her family, whoever that consists of. I'd like to take a photo of her, but haven't yet decide to ask her. I'd need a translator.

Now that I finally write this down, I find I don't have all the words to express what it is exactly that I feel. It isn't just pity, but I also feel proud of her for trying to do something about her poverty, not just beg. There are 2 words and neither are totally adequate. Life is hard here, not for all Togolese, but certainly for most of them.

One last thing, if you'd like to know what they sell in the bottles this girl collects, write a comment to this blog entry and I'll tell you. ~kathy