The Market

Almost all prices for goods in Tanzania are negotiable. There are exceptions like business products sold in Dar Es Salaam, however, almost anywhere else, you are expected to negotiate. Nowhere else is this more true that at the market. Today was no exception.
I just returned from the market to buy a few things, some fruits and vegetables, cooking oil and flour.....and just as always, I have to negotiate with the same vendors I see everyday.
But things are getting worse. I mean each time I go to the market more peoople approach me with items to buy and each is looking to sell me something for an inflated price.
Today the same thing happened. I rode my bike down the street to the market. The first person who saw me began shouting "Doctor, Doctor" and ran up to me with a handful of oranges. The greeting was heard by a bunch of other people who took it as a sign to draw near as well, and within minutes I was surrounded by at least a dozen people with fruits and vegetables, toilet paper, tooth picks, watches, shoes, etc. all yelling and screaming to buy their items.....
Today was a little bit different, there were more people, maybe 15 total, all urging me to buy something. Being a white guy in the market here, the locals know that they can inflate the prices on everything. And as much as I know it is a higher price there is no way to bargain! So I get all of my essentials and give the loudest person money. Next time I need to buy something I'm going to make a list and give to one of the nurses.......

I gave my nursing students a quiz today - just a simple 12 question test on anatomy/physiology of reproductive system. I asked the students after, what they though of the questions and most said that the questions were easy......The average score was a 50%, the highest score was 10 correct and the lowest was 2 correct. It was the first quiz I've written, so I tried to balance hard, medium, and easy questions! I included questions like name the largest artery in the body to questions differentiating between hormones involved in HPO axis......interestingly enough, one of the students who scored the highest, missed the answer to largest artery in the body!

At night its been quiet as usual. It helps having the projector that I bought in Dar es Salaam - the last few nights my neighbors have come over for a movie, popcorn and wine; we have been watching Godfather (part II last night)......

That's it from here. If you can think of any suggestions on how to improve test scores in Tanzanian nursing students let me know!!