I have eaten so much, yet still seem to be losing weight? Oh yea, maybe that’s because I can’t get a Taco Bell crunchwrap supreme or my all-time favorite chicken nuggets. Also, necessity demanded that my Diet Coke addiction be nipped at the bud. Which was sad, but probably healthy for me.
As far as what I have been eating, I have had the fortune to be placed in a home that serves meat more than most in the country. It is normally steamed in a thin tomato sauce. I have had more bananas than I can count. Almost always at least one for breakfast, but there is some kind of banana aspect in a lot of meals (BECAUSE THEY ARE EVERYWHERE). In addition to being everywhere, there are also many different types. There are these very very small bananas that are sweeter, imineke, which are just regular bananas, and ibitoke, which is a very green banana that is super sticky when you try to shuck it (That’s right, shuck, not peel). I could go on about bananas, but let’s continue.
Ground nuts (peanuts) are a staple snack, and of course there is the all-important rice. What kind of rice you may ask? There is a big debate over here on who has the best rice around, but I can fully support the claim that Tanzanian rice is the best. It beats out my sushi rice any day. I don’t know why or how it’s so tasty, but I could eat an entire bowl of just Tanzanian rice. A very filling item is called Chapati. It is sort of like a pita, but better and more filling. You don’t pair anything with it, just eat as is.
For a chuckle, I’ll bring up dairy. Rwandans have nowhere near mastered the art of cheese. I found that out when I ordered a sandwich with Rwandan Gouda on it – a true adventure. Yogurt is similar to yogurt in the States, but tastes much more natural for obvious reasons. Then of course, there is fermented milk. Which strangely doesn’t taste like much until you swallow. And then it tastes like I just drank a liquid form of a mozzarella cheese stick. I haven’t decided if that’s a good thing or a bad thing yet.
In any case, it’s good that I haven’t abandoned my motto of “I’ll try anything once”!
As far as what I have been eating, I have had the fortune to be placed in a home that serves meat more than most in the country. It is normally steamed in a thin tomato sauce. I have had more bananas than I can count. Almost always at least one for breakfast, but there is some kind of banana aspect in a lot of meals (BECAUSE THEY ARE EVERYWHERE). In addition to being everywhere, there are also many different types. There are these very very small bananas that are sweeter, imineke, which are just regular bananas, and ibitoke, which is a very green banana that is super sticky when you try to shuck it (That’s right, shuck, not peel). I could go on about bananas, but let’s continue.
Ground nuts (peanuts) are a staple snack, and of course there is the all-important rice. What kind of rice you may ask? There is a big debate over here on who has the best rice around, but I can fully support the claim that Tanzanian rice is the best. It beats out my sushi rice any day. I don’t know why or how it’s so tasty, but I could eat an entire bowl of just Tanzanian rice. A very filling item is called Chapati. It is sort of like a pita, but better and more filling. You don’t pair anything with it, just eat as is.
For a chuckle, I’ll bring up dairy. Rwandans have nowhere near mastered the art of cheese. I found that out when I ordered a sandwich with Rwandan Gouda on it – a true adventure. Yogurt is similar to yogurt in the States, but tastes much more natural for obvious reasons. Then of course, there is fermented milk. Which strangely doesn’t taste like much until you swallow. And then it tastes like I just drank a liquid form of a mozzarella cheese stick. I haven’t decided if that’s a good thing or a bad thing yet.
In any case, it’s good that I haven’t abandoned my motto of “I’ll try anything once”!