Everyone wants to know what the Food is like. I have to
admit, enjoying food as much as I do, I was curious as well.
My first taste of Uganda was actually a Ugandan beer! Seeing
as I am staying in a Monastery, this would be greatly frowned upon so that was
the last one. The meals I had out on the town were amazing (a Mediterranean
place and an Ethiopian restaurant). Our meals at the Monastery are simple, nutritious and tasty!
BREAKFAST: Usually consists of a banana, bread with butter
and milk tea. Today we had porridge (which though made more like a thick soup)
was quite tasty. We also had a fried turnover stuffed with meat and regular
tea. The tea is like a Chai tea of sorts and is really good. One morning we had
a green lime looking fruit. I asked what it was and one of the girls said “an
orange”. I looked at her confused and said, “That doesn’t look like an orange”
She asked me what an orange looked like in my country. I pointed to the bright
orange plate in front of me and said “like this, Orange”…they all laughed. The other day we even had macaroni for
breakfast. Seriously….mixed with tomatoes and some broth. Very odd but
surprisingly good. The oddest breakfast was gravy and biscuits….It had meat in
it…turns out it was LIVER! The girls told me it was dog liver and I nearly
freaked…they thought this was funny as they were just teasing me….has anyone
else had liver for breakfast?
LUNCH: We usually have rice and a mix of potato and veggies
in a broth. The veggies are sparse but
adequate. There usually a fruit but not always. Most lunches have had meat
in it! Yesterday I saw tubular looking things in my broth. I asked what it
was….turns out goat intestines. I decided to try it though the thought of it
made that difficult at first. It tasted fine and more like the fatty part of a
cut of beef but the consistency of calamari. I think I’ll call it Goat
Calamari! HMMM ..I remembered the goat being prepared the day before.
Today we had rice and chunks of meat which may have also
been goat but tasted like beef....really good. I waited until the Brothers were served though
they were insisting I go up. I was near the end but the Brother serving doled
out several chunks of beef for me that I didn’t see anyone else get. That was
very nice and very kind and a gesture of a gracious host to a guest. I have no
need to be given any special privileges but felt honored. What a kind gesture.
Yesterday we had maize flour (looks like instant potatoes
but thicker) veggie and meat broth with potatoes. All meals are served with
cold filtered water.
TEAT TIME: Tea or Tang. I usually go for the Tang hot!
Reminds me of being a kid! There is also regular bread or also these pastry
rolls rolled long like a cinnamon roll but with something red sparingly rolled
inside. It is slightly sweeter than regular bread but not very sweet. It tastes
good dipped in Tang!
FUNNY STORY: mealtime is usually quiet. The girls usually
eat in silence. I am not sure this is a requirement or just they way people
have a meal together here. They all speak in near whispers. There are conversations
going on all the time but inaudible. There are faint eye and hand wave signs
and gestures. I am figuring out that one may mean pass the bowl or put a lid back
on the pot or give Sister Rose a glass of water, please.
Today I was thinking of lots of things from the day. I was
just eating as I am used to…fast…before I knew it I was done and just sitting
there gazing. I caught one of those head nod signals and before I knew it,
there was a bowl of rice and veggie stew sitting in front of me. I looked up and
noted that everyone else was only ½ way through her meal. They were all staring
at me. One girl nodded ( a gesture meaning go ahead and grab some more). I
realized I must have looked starved…. I just started laughing out loud as did
the whole table suddenly. The conversation remained more audible after this
with whispered chatting and giggles.
APPETITES: Eating 3 x day is a new thing for me. It has been
something that I have been aiming at trying to do for years. Sometimes I am
able to and most of the time I just work through the day and forget. We eat 3 x
day with a snack here. I have only opted to miss the snack. They won’t start a
meal without everyone there and you must politely wait for everyone to finish
before Thanks giving grace. This can be torture for me when I want to get back
to the kids. Alas, it may actually be putting me into better habits especially
the ones of grateful praise.
The women and men here eat very well. They are all very
small yet they pile the food on their plates. I keep commenting to them how
amazing they can eat and they always comment on how little I am taking. I laugh
and tell them that I am OLD and don’t need to eat as much as they do (they are
all around 20 yrs. old) One girl thought she was older than me and made me give
my age first. I told her 47 and she jumped and gasped. I asked her how old she
was and she said 20. “Did you really think you were older than me????” I asked.
She just giggled and said she had no idea but “No matter, you don’t look that
old” That was the nicest thing I heard all day!
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