📙 Part 2: Describe a time you bought something from a street market

This episode's vocabulary

Uprising (noun) - an act of opposition, sometimes using violence, by many people in one area of a country against those who are in power.

To take someone's mind off something (idiom) - to stop you from worrying or thinking about a problem or pain, often by forcing you to think about other things.

Impromptu (adj.) - done or said without earlier planning or preparation.

Stall (noun) - a large table or a small shop with an open front from which goods are sold in a public place.

Initially (adverb) - at the beginning.

Afterwards (adverb) - after the time mentioned.

To haggle (verb) - to attempt to decide on a price or conditions that are acceptable to the person selling the goods and the person buying them, usually by arguing.

Purchase (noun) - something that you buy.

Revelry (noun) - a situation in which people are drinking, dancing, singing, etc. at a party or in public, especially in a noisy way.

To negotiate (verb) - to have formal discussions with someone in order to reach an agreement with them.

Trader (noun) - a person who buys and sells things.

Once-in-a-lifetime (adj.) - a once-in-a-lifetime experience or opportunity is very special because you will probably only have it once.

Inaccessible (adj.) - very difficult or impossible to travel to or reach.

Local customs (plural noun) - the way that something is done in a particular place, especially when unique or typical of that place.

Questions and Answers

R: Well, to be honest, I don't really like going to street markets and buying things there. I think it's a bit of a waste of my time and money. This is just how I feel about it. Other people can do what they like. But quite a few years ago now I was in Haiti, and I had the chance to pick up some local art and craft work, now I remember it. I think it was in the spring of 2018, and we had been evacuated to the south of the country due to this kind of uprising in the capital city, which was where we were staying. And the place we went to was called Jacmel. And we were staying at the house of a man called rather fittingly, Jacmel Joe. And basically, he's like a local celebrity. Jacmel is home to this sort of famous art commune. So we went to visit one day and take our minds off the riots in the northern part of the country. Part of the impromptu tour involved a walk by the seaside, where some local artists had set up their stalls in a small street market. I didn't have a lot of room in my case that I'd taken with me. But there was enough to buy a bracelet made of some shells that this guy was selling. And he picked them up and decorated them. So I thought they would make quite a good gift for my parents. Anyway, while I was happy with what I got initially, afterwards, I felt a bit embarrassed because I'd forgotten to haggle. It's like a common practice with all the street market purchases in the country. And it's part of the sort of good-natured revelry of these places. So you like negotiate the price and then they bring it up and bring it down and you argue with them. Needless to say, because I had forgotten and this was, I was so focused on getting everything done and dusted. I think I might have accidentally offended the trader. I suppose it was worth it, though, ultimately, since it was a once-in-a-lifetime thing. And I think the country is pretty inaccessible now. So I'm unlikely to have that opportunity again. If I had to do it again, though, I definitely would, though. I try and make sure I remember the local customs and to respect them

M: And do you often go to street markets?

R: No, like I said, I'm not a big fan.

M: Hey, thank you, Rory, for your lovely story!