Chapter 169: Christmas Shopping
In Dar es Salaam, the Fisher family was gearing up for Christmas. This coastal city was quite different from inland ones due to its status as an open port, welcoming ships from various countries and facilitating access to a wide range of products.
"Honey, you're back," Anna greeted Fisher warmly. Their life in East Africa had brought stability, and they were no longer burdened by the hardships they had faced in Germany. The Fisher family's mental state had shifted towards optimism and positivity, leaving behind the melancholy expressions that had once marked their lives.
"Yeah, I just went to Trade Street to have a look. Here's what I bought. Take a look," Fisher said, handing Anna a basket.
Curious, Anna peered into the basket and found an oiled paper bag, a sack, a jar, and something else hidden underneath.
"What's this?" Anna inquired, pulling out the oiled paper bag.
"Open it up," Fisher encouraged.
Anna carefully unfolded the oiled paper package, revealing a collection of sausage-like items inside.
"Sausages are still sold in East Africa?" Anna was somewhat surprised.
"I didn't expect to find these on Trade Street. They're quite rare, and the price was reasonable, so I bought them. According to the clerk, these are Vienna sausages imported from the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and they taste similar to what we're used to," Fisher explained.
"It's been a while since I've seen food from the German region, and even back in Germany, we couldn't afford them," Anna said with delight.
While the Fisher family received a steady supply of rice as part of their monthly rations from the East African colony, their palates occasionally yearned for the variety of flavors they used to enjoy in Germany. They had adapted to consuming rice, as it was the main staple in the East African region, but it couldn't replace the diversity they had once known.
Anna's comment prompted Fisher to reveal more of his purchases.
"Honey, we don't have to live the way we did in Germany anymore, and life will continue to improve," Fisher assured his wife.
Anna nodded in agreement, leaning into Fisher's embrace.
"You haven't seen everything yet," Fisher reminded her.
Anna retrieved the jar from the basket, and through the glass, she could see white particles inside.
"What's this?" Anna inquired.
"It's table salt. We didn't have any at home, did we?" Fisher replied.
"No, but I didn't expect you to buy it from a store in Hechingen. I can't even guess what this is," Anna admitted, shaking her head.
"This is white sugar, imported from the Far East," Fisher revealed.
Sugar was a luxury in Europe, and its price reflected its scarcity. While Germany had begun cultivating sugar beets to produce sugar domestically, the scale was limited, and imports still dominated the market. East Africa had the potential to grow sugar cane, but rice was the primary crop, and only a small area in the Great Lakes region was devoted to sugar cane.
"I hope it wasn't too expensive," Anna expressed her concern.
"The price was a bit high, but we have the means, and with Christmas approaching, we can use these to enhance the children's nutrition," Fisher explained.
Fisher's job in East Africa was well-paying, and the Fisher family enjoyed a comfortable life. Although the majority of people in East Africa had enough to eat and live on, Fischer's skills made him a valuable asset to the colony, ensuring his salary exceeded that of the average immigrant.
The difference between Fisher and other immigrants was that he was actively recruited and brought to East Africa by the Hechingen Consortium. While other immigrants held nominal positions under the Hechingen Consortium, Fisher was a true employee, contributing his skills to the colony.
Despite their common affiliation with the Hechingen Consortium, it was clear that the experiences of immigrants varied significantly. German and Slavic immigrants, especially, felt little difference in their lives compared to Europe.
However, Far East immigrants had a different experience. In the Far East, there were no European-style nobles, and the interactions mainly involved landlords in the villages. The status of Far East landlords was far less prominent in society compared to European nobility, particularly in terms of political influence.
In Europe, distinctions of social status were strongly emphasized, particularly among nobles and commoners. The divide between the two was clear, and it was challenging for commoners to ascend to nobility.
Conversely, in the Far East, there was more room for upward mobility based on hard work. Farmers, for example, had the opportunity to become landlords, and individuals could improve their social status through success in the imperial examinations, achieving the "scholar" class. While these opportunities existed, they often required a higher degree of effort and achievement.