I only wear Gucci, sweetie

Oh Africa.

I've been clothes shopping a few times in some boutiques near my house, to no avail.

"Do you have anything that doesn't have a huge Dolce&Gabanna logo on it?"

Everything here is branded. Lacoste, Polo, D&G, Gucci... 5$, 10$... not bad quality, but just wrong. OBVIOUSLY it's all fake. I know it, they know it... do they even know who D&G is? They don't really seem to care. Apparently the Chinese can even fake cars. FAKE CARS!! Anyone care for an imitation Cadillac?

What is the world coming to?

When I ask if they have anything plainer, or without a logo on it, they look at me like I'm crazy.

And people here dress UP. At work, there are days when some of the ladies come dressed in what I consider a GOWN. I've learned to up my look a little (sometimes), but they seem to not care what I wear. They tend to let white people wear whatever they want (although God knows what they say to each other in Fon when they see the white girls walk by!). Like the time Jean didn't tell me we were going to a freaking funeral and I was wearing jeans and a tank top. GRRRR!! I'm still mad about that one!

I'm looking forward to having a few dresses made, and having a blouse fixed, and having them copy a pair of pants that I brought. I'll let you know how much those run me. There are a lot of seamstress/tailor places around, and a lot of bright coloured fabrics! OH AFRICA!!!

Sometimes, like at that funeral, you'll see a whole group of people walking around in different outfits, but all made from the same fabric. Like someone just bought a bushel and people chose their own patterns. Nifty!

Oh! Gotta run! Wednesday nights at 17h we have a trainer come in for an aerobics class. Friday mornings too.

Happy April everyone... I'm home in 2.5 months... eep! (Went to get my visa renewed this morning. Need a form from City Hall saying that I live here, and a letter from my boss saying that I work here. Met a girl from Saskatoon in the visa line-up! Was nice to meet a girl from "back home" and made me realize... I really should make an effort to make it out to central and western Canada one day!!!)