A New View of Food

A New View of Food

Sept. 3, 2009

Well, tomorrow it will make 2 weeks that we've been here in Burundi this time. Though my 7th time, here, in many ways this is a new experience. First of all, I am teaching a semester-long 3 credit course. Second of all, I am living in an apartment on campus, and cooking for myself. Previously I haved made my home with an American couple here on campus. This all leads me to the topic of this blog entry: "A New View of Food".

It is obvious that living in a culture different than your own means experiencing food that is new to you. But, ones doesn't always have the experience of shopping for food and cooking the food and thinking about eating a balanced diet. After just a handful of shopping trips to purchase food for my kitchen here, it occured to me a couple days ago that I new a new appreciation for food, and am developing a new view of food. I don't clim to have amazing insights, just impressions new to me.

In Burundi there are none of the typical "fast food joints" many Americans are so fond of. For we "muzungus" (white people) here at Hope Africa. the five of us find grocery shopping a challenge. There are no "one-stop shopping" stores such as Meijer. There are no malls. There are a variety of grocery stores, some quite small, others just small. In some stores the prices are marked, in others they aren't. In the stores where the prices aren't on the items, one always wonders if the prices are hiked up if you are a muzungu, or if you don't have a national with you.

There are canned good, but they are quite a bit more costly than in the U.S. For example. I bought a small can of carrots and peas (about half the size of a can of regular Campbell's soup) and it was almost $4. Wow! But, it makes nice thing to add to soup, or curried rice. A big box of Corn Flakes is $7, and I have seen it for $17. No kidding!

I think the biggest difference I've noticed it that there are far fewer choices (at least from what I've seen so far) in fruit and veggies. Oranges, limes, mango, papaya, bananas and tomatoes are most common. Many times you can also find white potatoes, small red onions, garlic. Sometimes there are green onions, string beans, pineapple, and spinach. I've seen apples in a couple places, but you pay a stiff price for them. The catch is that the prices from store to store vary, as does the quality (on any one day) between stores and in one store. After one purchases fruit and veggies, one needs to wash them in a pan of water with a dash of bleach. Any missionary who has lived in a developing country knows this.

So, my "new view" is that I have realized I have a huge appreciation for the convenient shopping opportunities we have in most parts of the U.S. We as a huge economy in the world, can afford to only import the best looking fruit and vegetables. We can afford to have it cleaned and packaged. We can have almost any fruit or vegetable year round. Most of us can just hop into the car, drive over smooth roads in a good car, drive into a large smooth parking lot, and dash in and out of the store to grab things to satisfy the need for a fancy meal, or a late night snack.

Here, it usually means a trip to town, driving on roads that have potholes, dust, along with pedestrians, people riding bicycles, motorcyles, and lots of motor vehicles, with no stop signs, no signs at all come to think of it. Hey, no stop lights either! One has to navigate a parking space the best way possible. And remember, the store you enter is small. In one of them yesterday, it was hard to get past a person in the aisle. These stores have character. The contents of the container might be in Arabic, French, Chinese, or ???? There isn't air conditioning, nor are there fans, yet the temperatures are usually in the 80's.

Usually one visits 3 or 4 stores, because you know the price of something you need is much better at another place. But, it is likely you have learned that "the hard way". By the time one arrives back home, you feel sticky, a little grimy, hot, and ready for a cup of tea, and or a nap. Personally, the best treat is a bottle of passion fruit juice. Here (an in Honduras) it is known as Maracuja. Wow, is it delicious.

Hey, I forgot to talk about buying meat! Fish and chicken is usually frozen. You can buy pieces, or the whole thing. I bought some last Friday, but our power had been out for 18 hours, so it thawed pretty quick. The couple on campus that lives in their house has a generator, so she refroze it. I thawed it on Monday and ate it. Yummy!!!! Beef you buy by the Kilogram - and ask for it from a clerk since all the meat is in a glass case. If you are still learning Kirundi or French like me, you either point, or am thankful you have a national friend along with you.

Despite the challenges, it is always interesting to go grocery shopping. Products are package differently, if they are packaged. They are displayed differently. But, it isn't usually a cheap form of entertainment. I've spend almost the same on groceries as I do in the U.S. the fruits and vegetables aren't so high, but the other food items one wants are a pretty penny in most places.

I have come to appreciate the food I do have here. I dont' casually cut up a tomato, or carelessly peel a mango. It might be a 2 or 3 days before we go shopping again. If I eat all the fruits and veggies, I'll have to pester someone to take me shopping. I don't have a vehicle - and NO way would I drive here!


Bon appetite!