People

By Lydia Mangiardi
Namanga, Tanzania
"This woman was at the Namanga border crossing from Kenya to Tanzania. This was some experience that the photo didn’t capture. About 20 women descended on our truck trying to sell their wares. Even though we were on the truck and tried not to look interested, they surrounded the truck and pounded on the windows trying to get our attention. We tried not to look their way, but it was no use – they persisted and finally we had to get off the truck to cross the border since you had to do this on foot. I barely got out of this alive, even though I knew I would be fresh meat since they could sense my weakness for shopping. They descended upon me, surrounding me. I could handle it though (I am an experienced shopper) and I managed to take the heat for the rest of the group – sort of like the human sacrifice. I broke my sandal trying to get away and I crossed the border bare-footed in true African style."