Wednesday, July 29, 2009

fish: fun and food

Last night for dinner, I experienced a new dish that while I could tolerate the taste (I had to eat something since I had pills to take), I did a lot of praying and swallowing without chewing. Maize meal call ugali has the consistency of hard mashed potatoes. Until they get in your mouth. For those who have very sensitive taste buds with sensory hairs, they will pick up a unique granule feeling that is reminiscent of sand off the beach. Thankfully one doesn’t have to endure the grainy crunch in the teeth. Anyway, it’s quite dry and is best with some sort of stew or sauce. The said sauce for this meal was coconut soup which sounds tasty enough until one finds out its mixed with fish juice, onions, garlic and tomato. Then, the protein of the night looked at me- fish: eyeballs and all. And really if the eyeballs are still intact, one can only surmise that every other part will come with it. Now I know why fish sticks are so good- they don’t have bones, scales, more bones, and eyeballs. The watermelon was my safety zone; I almost ate the seeds I was so excited. But for those who are faithful, they will be blessed. To my surprise, we celebrated a child’s birthday so each of us got a slice of moist marble cake. It was music in my mouth and calmed any anxiety my stomach had of having to digest the eyeballs in sand.

This afternoon we went snorkeling. My time in Jamaica was much more enjoyable since waves weren’t splashing me every 55 seconds and there were more fish. Snorkeling is not my favorite either because I concern myself more with breathing than enjoying the scenery below. Finally, I’m a destination person, not so much a look at, study and take in person. I pray I get better at appreciating the beauty in creation’s details. On a brighter note, the conversation informing the group of these plans went something like this.
Mama: we’re going snorkeling.
Dad: How big is the boat?
Son: Big enough for the 8 of us.
Dad: I mean the motor.
African host: Mota? No we’re taking a boat.
Dad/Son togetherish: no motor, the engine.
Guide: oh 45 horses.
Mama: That’s not very big.
Other son: it’s big enough it will hold all 8 of us.
Mama: I mean the motor. That’s enough to pull 3 people and a skier.
Son: We’re not going skiing.
Mama: I ‘m just saying that’s as much power as we will have.
Daughter: 3 people and a STEER?
ALL sans daughter: (laughter)
Mama: I know you’re a farmer through and through but I said skier. We’re not going with any cows.
Son: MOM-the boat is big enough for ALL of us.

This morning I talked to a bunch of high school girls about relationships, religion, dreams, goals, etc. It was an enlightening time to get to know them and I hope they feel that our time together has not been a waste. Even if we take very little, I will certainly remember the ease and comfort I had in talking to them. Perhaps it’s because I knew I had nothing to lose. Perhaps I felt enough age difference to feel somewhat authoritative, as prideful as that is. Either way, we connected and we learned a from each other.

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