This is a request you hear frequently this time of year around Zambia. Passing by strangers, in the market or walking through my village where the CMI offices are you find strangers and good friends alike boldly requesting a gift in the name of Christmas with a smile on their face. I have always been surprised at how comfortable individuals are here with asking for something from you...money, candy or a gift. Often it can feel annoying and the mind wants to grumble about negative effects of past hand-outs, charitable gifts and destructive feelings of entitlement. Then I remind myself that I would likely be doing the same thing if I switched shoes with any of my neighbors or strangers on the street. Every now and then you might find a tourist or visitor who feels badly for a "poor" Zambian asking for a bit of money and guilt may prompt you to hand over some cash. If I had grown up in Zambia I would likely try my luck as well with any foreigner that I saw and hope that they might easily open their wallets.

I'm not sure if the requests for gifts will taper off as the world gets closer and closer to reaching the millennium development goals. It is honestly hard to imagine a time when the desire to squeeze a free gift out of a visitor will not be one of the first topics articulated in a conversation. Again, I may do the same thing if the tables were turned.

Do wealthy native Zambians also get frequent requests for gifts and "Christmas"? Or is it just anyone with lighter skin?