Gertrude

I have an immense amount of respect for Gertrude. She is the proud mother of four, and a gifted artist/craftswoman. She makes baskets, balls, wallets, and purses out of banana leaf fibers. Her designs are exquisite, and unique to anything in the tourist craft shops.

Every night she goes to the hotel next to my hostel to sell her products and then comes here and sits outside the main room showing off her work, hoping for customers. Every night she is in high spirits. Every night we discuss our days, how we’re feeling, and who we suspect might be the buying type. And then Gertrude walks to the people we think might buy from her and she politely taps them on the shoulder and asks them to look at her crafts. She is never pushy and never in anyone’s face, but still people get irritated she is interrupting their conversations or tv watching and sometimes brush her off. Not everyone of course, and I’m sure I’ve been that tired traveller who has no desire to look at any more products for sale plenty of times, but it happens. When it happens Gertrude, with grace and without taking offense, walks to someone else to sell her art. I am always in awe of her as she does this cause I know I would feel defeated after the first rejection or eye roll.

Gertrude makes her living by selling these products, and these products have supported four children through school. Pretty amazing. Gertrude now has two sons working in Dubai and then a son and a daughter still here in Uganda working on their degrees. Her persistence and hard work laid the foundation for these lives. For years this has been her routine, and it has been a routine that has given her children the chance to pursue their educations and their careers. Because of her determination her children will be able to give their children a chance at even better lives.

Knowing her and spending my nights with her, sometimes trying to assist in a sale or two (when someone seems on the verge of buying something I just so happen to walk buy with my purse and thank her again for what a beautiful, durable, bag it is and what a wise purchase it was), will, hopefully, make me more patient with other people who are selling products to tourists.