2013 Windhoek Show. What to Expect?

The Windhoek Industrial and Agricultural Show (WIAS) is a trade fair that is held annually. It combines an agricultural exhibition, several industrial and retail offerings, and a range of entertainment. People flock to the WIAS every year to experience the wonders of the show, or to escape from their realities if only for a few hours.
This year the WIAS starts on the 27th of September and ends on the 5th of October. I have no high expectations for this year’s WIAS. All I really expect is disappointment, disappointment and more disappointment. The last time I went to the WIAS was 2011 and I only stayed for an hour, that should tell you a lot about how disappointing it was for me.
Every year its the same thing, I can even tell you which companies stalls are situated where or in which hall to expect them, that’s how predictable the WIAS is. But thousands of people still flock to the show grounds. For what I ask myself?
Maybe to go to a different place that they usually go to every weekend? Or is it to mingle with strangers or a big crowd? Don’t know the answer to that, but the atmosphere changes in Windhoek when the show is on. People get a spring in their step and the children are all excited. For me personally I get that warm fuzzy feeling inside when I meet a long lost friend at the show. Then you exchange numbers but you know in your heart of hearts you will not even attempt to get in touch with that person, because there’s a reason you are not friends with that person any more ‘Right?’. But none the less its a wonderful feeling.
The first thing I do when I enter the gates of the WIAS is just start walking around, to get used to the atmosphere and see what grabs my attention. Then I walk back to the gate and stand in front of the snake park for about 20 minutes contemplating if I should go in or not. I’m terrified of snakes but I just love the adrenaline rush when I see them or touch them. This is the best part of the WISA for me, I get the shivers just thinking about it. After the rush comes the time to spend money.
Even though I am a grown woman, once in a while I love to go on the rides and eat candy floss, with my nieces and nephews just to feel like a kid again and escape the realities of adulthood. But no, no those rides don’t look safe at all, I even make sure the kids don’t go on the ones that look dangerous and unsafe, with all the rust. Even the worst of the worst of taxis look much safer than some of those rides. I get a lot of tears for that, but its better to be safe than sorry, I won’t even risk it.
I don’t even bother going to the back of the show grounds,where all the expensive goodies are, because I know I won’t be able to afford the cars, boats or cows on display, so why go and drool over them? “Not my style”. But one day it will be the first place I start with. I don’t even buy food there unless its for the kids, but I make sure we leave home “duk geeet”. The only things I’ve ever bought at the WIAS is jewellery, that I can’t resist. But I might as well just go and buy at Town Square because they are all the same. And after the show is done you will see every second person in town wearing the same earrings as yours.
And then there are the beer tents, eish, I won’t even go there, that’s another topic on its own. Its seems like some people only go to the show for the beer tents, I am not here to judge, each to their own.
But any how, I will definitely be at the WIAS this year, with no high expectations, because I know it will be the same old same old. But I will make sure I enjoy myself, its about time. Say hi to me if you see me there, but don’t expect a call!!