Now, I don’t know if I have explained this thoroughly in my blog, but food here….not the country’s best asset. Minus delicious fruits when in season and if people are good at gardening…again by season….I am not so into the food here, and I am not alone in these thoughts. When people send us magazines with adds for microwave pizza we drool a little bit, talk about it for 30 minutes and then ask ourselves why we torture ourselves by talking about it.
I mean not all the food is horrible. Occasionally we have a good maffe (peanut sauce) or we see a bitter tomato or leaf sauce (delish) or on special occasions someone kills a chicken and all hell breaks loose. But lately, especially in the last couple of months, the menu consists of rice with watery peanut sauce, rice with crushed peanuts, and sometimes oily rice with dried fish in it. Gr-oss.
But what things get us through the day? Kabaas, sour fruit that tastes like sour war heads are in right now, mango season just ended, there are some cookies called biskrem we can get for the equivilant for 25 cents, but my favorite snack lately, mayonnaise sandwiches. I know what you are thinking. Gross alert. And I would have said that too a year ago. I mean, I was a vegan before coming here. I am pretty sure I hadn’t had mayonnaise since I was 8 and we made tuna sandwiches for the beach. I am pretty sure I just didn’t like mayonnaise period before coming to this country. But, we have pretty good tapalapa, which is village bread here, and throw some mayonnaise on it, it makes a great breakfast or snack, and better yet, you can buy it for again the equivalent of 25 cents. Life is good.
If you don’t believe me and still think I am gross. This is now your invitation to send me things that you think might taste better than a mayonnaise sandwich. Because I know that most things should taste better than a mayonnaise sandwich.
Address:
B.P. 37
Kedougou, Senegal
West Africa
Uncle Bruce Said:
on July 14, 2011 at 11:21 pm
Leah, you’re a “chip off the old block” more than you think! Your Dad and I used to have mayonnaise sandwiches at our neighbors’ house many, many years ago! BTW- I STILL insist on Hellman’s…Another neighborhood kid was known for his ketchup sandwiches! Ah, life was good back then…still is! Thanks for your stories, and reminding me that the simple thiongs in life are OK! Stay safe…UB
Mary Jo Said:
on July 15, 2011 at 3:55 am
Must have been a Moriarty thing…my absolute all time favorite is peanutbutter, tomato and mayonnaise on whole wheat toast! Grammy used to talk about her cold baked bean sandwiches she would take to school. Maybe a dab of mayo would have rocked those beans, too! The little things we take for granted! Enjoy your adventure! Love, Aunt Mary Jo
annarita Said:
on July 15, 2011 at 10:13 am
taking like beans sandwiches are already finished!? how’s saraya? Please send my love to everybody and let’s try to speak soon. Once Assan gave me the best mayo I ever had in Saraya. it was from a truck directed to mali that we saved from currapted police in Moussala…find malian mayo, it’s better…but i’ll send you a package soon or later..you guys deserve it! miss you all lots. baci
Adam Said:
on July 19, 2011 at 4:27 pm
I prefer a nice spoonful of dijon mustard! But still that sounds kind of gross – so we sent you a care package!
Love, Claudia + Adam