Day 4 – Market day iskitengeday!
On Thursday morning, we find the young man with genital ulcers who, after a few days of antibiotics, is feeling better and the lesions are regressing. In fact, he is about to go home. For a few days now, we have been suggesting that he take an HIV test. We never receive a direct "no," but in fact, the young man is discharged without having taken the test. It is difficult for us to understand whether this is due to cultural or economic factors or other dynamics that we struggle to grasp and interpret. Certainly, in a country where homosexuality is punishable by life imprisonment, it may be difficult to talk about certain issues. The staff assure us that the test will be done at the follow-up visit, so we decide not to insist further, aware that it would take more time to establish the necessary trust to understand certain dynamics and have an impact on certain choices. We take the opportunity to stay after the tour to spend time with the staff without feeling the need to do anything in particular, but simply to be there.
Thursday afternoon is also a special day for Kyatiri: it's market day. We set off with Gabri, Carol, and Jimmy along the red dirt road that leads from Kisekula to the center of Kyatiri. Along the way, we can't help but notice that we are being stared at: after all, you don't see manyMzunguaround here.
Once we arrive at the market, we immerse ourselves in a colorful chaos that brings together all the people in the area, and we do our part by selecting a considerable number ofkitenge, colorful fabrics with beautiful patterns. Ale and Stefi also manage to find some beautifullocal clothes.
On their return, Gabri and Jimmy walk home taking a shortcut through the savannah, while Ale and Stefi stop with Carol for a drink but catch up, returning in time for sunset with aboda(local motorcycle taxi).
