Hurry along November, I can’t wait for December and it looks like I’m not the only one. This is one month millions look forward to and it has a lot to do with Christmas, New Year’s and the generally good feel around this time of the year. Personally, I love the generosity people show others and the numerous promotions and clearance sales.

Any company worth its name will tout a promotion of some kind where big discounts and at times gifts are given. You will get appliances, mobile phones, clothes and even food at unbelievably low prices. Now if you’re keen on good bargains like I am, then this is the time to buy for two reasons.

As Christmas draws close, traders could decide to
hike prices because the demand is so high or, stocks could run out because so many people are buying. And you don’t want to miss out, do you? Plus, you get to save some money because soon after Christmas, life will have to go on and you will be glad you put some money aside.

I don’t know about Rwanda since this will be my first Christmas here, but I do know that the day is big in Uganda and many other countries around the world. Many Ugandans for instance start travelling upcountry weeks before Christmas and only return to town two or three
weeks into the New Year. 

City streets and taxi parks suddenly fill with hawkers selling all manner of merchandise. From Christmas decorations and cards to turkeys and shoes… all at incredibly low prices!

But these same streets are also packed with pick pockets and conmen who will not hesitate to take advantage of naïve and starry-eyed shoppers.

Stories are told of people who have lost their money and phones to these crooks while others bought fake products. So to those planning to go shopping, I say just be cautious and hold tight onto your bag, wallet or whatever you use to keep your money.

I had hoped to travel back home to Uganda for Christmas but it’s likely I won’t be able to go. My bosses are not Christians and therefore aren’t too keen to celebrate. They are however looking forward to cashing in on the season because people generally tend to spend more, come end of year.

This means we’ll be our busiest and so each one of
us is expected to show up for work. 

Going home would mean asking for leave for about two weeks since I would have to travel by bus and that is a long time to be away, understandably. Since I’m not ready to lose this job just yet, I will pass the trip back home. The family will not be too happy about this development because there’s an unwritten rule in our home that everybody has to be home for Christmas.

Work issues aside, I also wouldn’t want to go home empty handed. You know how it is with such trips. People except you to take something along since you’ve been busy "working” all year. Supplies like rice, sugar, cooking oil and a little money would surely put you in your relatives’ good books.

I do have some money but if I take the cost of the trip into account, there’s hardly enough left to do the shopping. Perhaps if things get better in the New Year as I’m hoping they will, I will make up for this with an Easter visit!

To be continued...