These meetings seem to follow a similar pattern. They start with tough quizzing of the women on the group’s finances. Next, there are some fluffier questions about their plans for their collective future. Women seem to, in general, say they’d like to use the income garnered from their goats and their savings to move into other ventures, generally shyrdaks and other handicrafts.
The second portion of these meetings involves, invariable, food. Right now, we’re sitting before a magical table of bread, salads, home-made jams, watermellon, candies and tea. Soon, a giant metal platter will be covered in food, and everyone will fight to put some of that on everyone else’s plates. That is the moment I’m heading for at this glorious moment. We’re even heading into a new room.
