A phenomena that exists across Africa (and probably other regions of the world) that I am really going to miss, is being able to buy just about anything on the side of the road from the comfort of your vehicle. I decided to write this post as I have been really trying to think about the things I take for granted about my life here. I need to think back through the lens I had when I was fresh to this place and the things that once shocked me that I should take pictures of to remind me of life when I am back in the states as well as assist me in sharing my stories of time spent here.

On the side of the road, you are pretty much guaranteed to find fruit & vegetables (tomatoes, onions & whatever is in season,) bags of charcoal and a few other things – randomly loacted in front of villages, family compounds, or turn-offs to other rural roads. If its a turn off where there are a few stands, usually you will be swarmed by women running up with their baskets promising to give you the best bargain if you buy from them. If its an item like charcoal, they will leave the bags at the road in front of their compound (collection of huts owned by one family) and if you choose to pull over you just hoot your horn to have the seller come to negotiate the price.

Bus stations work a little differently, it is something that has come to grow on me and I sometimes believe it is a better system than any drive through in America.

There are the usual items:
Chips & Salad (french fries & coleslaw mixed together in a bag)
Hard-boiled eggs
Boiled or roasted maize
Meat Pies & Samosas (fried foods with beef/chicken/potatoes/rice&vegetables in them)
Popcorn
Fritters (fried dough)
Peanuts (raw, roasted, or boiled depending on the season)
Apples, Bananas & Seasonal Fruits
Lollipops and other sweeties
Biscuits (cookies)
Crisps (potato chips)/ Jiggies (similar to cheetos)
Sausage
Drinks (water, softies/soda pop, juices/flavored drinks)
Super Maheau (flavored maize-porridge drink)
Newspapers
Various amounts of talk time scratch cards (phone minutes)

Think about that statement I made – sometimes better than a Drive-thru in America. The next time you are sitting in line for 20 minutes at Wendy’s or your fast food chain of choice, all you want is fries and a coke. If you had been on a bus in Africa you would have been able to wave someone over get your chips & coke within 5 mins tops and it was within an arms reach – no waiting involved (and usually the chips come with salad!) And even better is the fresh fruit you also could have grabbed to accompany the greasy food craving.

The more random items that I now just smile at, but I found shocking originally are sold in bus stations while you are waiting to start off or in larger towns where lots of passengers are unloading or boarding. Sometimes they even get on the bus to trade with you, but not all bus lines allow this. You really can buy just about anything in a bus station in Africa:
Handbrooms
Baskets
Brushes/combs
Razors
Flashlights
Costume jewelry
Scrunchies
Shoes
Jeans
CDs & DVDs
Soccer Balls
Stuffed Animals
Childrens Toys
Washcloths
Bandanas
Sunglasses
Bars of soap
Belts
Radios
Wristwatches
A variety of buckets
Hats
Toothbrushes and toothpaste
Steel wool & sponges
Toothpicks
Earbuds (Q-tips)
Handbags
Tool sets (screwdrivers/bike tools)
Knives

In bigger towns and cities, people will sell things on the street corners & if you want something like a newspaper or air time all you have to do is roll down your window because they are likely waving their merchandise at you in hopes of a sale. On the occasional off day where they aren’t paying attention, all it takes is rolling down the window & making a hissing sound, yes – like the sound of air leaking out of a tire – they will eagerly come running at you before the light changes to make a transaction with you. I’m going to miss having most of the miscellaneous things you could ever want available for purchase along the side of the road, yet in the same token I’m certain I wont necessarily miss the being hassled aspect of it.