On a lighter note

I can’t remember how much I’ve told you about food. Stop me if I have. HA! You can't. Anyway, if I haven’t been over it, you probably want to know what I eat. That’s a common PCV (and life) question.

Swazis eat a lot of liphalishi, or pap, a corn porridge. Most meals include some manifestation of this. For breakfast, it can be a “sour” version or a soft porridge. Think grits. For the lunch/dinner version, think grits, but firmer. I like it fine, but I don’t cook it for myself.

Most days I start with oatmeal with honey, milk and a banana. This is a pretty normal American food, though never one I’d eat in the U.S. I don’t know why I like it so much here. I think it’s because it fills me up, and I don’t have a toaster. I could toast bread in a pan, but why turn on the gas stove? I make my oatmeal using water I’ve boiled in my electric kettle. Of course, coffee is always a part of this event. You guys did an amazing job of keeping me supplied; I think I have six bags of deliciousness now.

I often do PB&J for lunch, the No. 1 food of PCVs everywhere. You can get those items here easily, and tuna also is available. For dinner, I’ll do a veggie and egg scramble with rice, rice and beans/veggies or pasta. Avocado will be a part of this if I have it around. I don’t cook meat for myself, though I have been eating it. I’ve always been the kind of person to buy a bunch of what I know I like and stick to it. I don’t mind cooking; food experimentation is just not high on my list of priority activities. If I find a rotation I like, I tend to stick with it. Sometimes I make beets, but it takes a while and eats up a lot of gas, so I don’t do it too often.

One thing I buy here that I didn’t buy in the U.S.: long-life milk. This comes in a paper 1-liter carton, and it lasts for up to a year. Once you open it, you have to drink it within a few days. Mine usually lasts a week in the fridge. This is particularly necessary here because many people have to get on a long bus ride home with their groceries. It’s a lot easier if you don’t have to worry about keeping things cold.

I’m not sure what process allows the milk to last for so long. I try not to think about it.

My two favorite Swazi food treats are chicken dust and emafeti, or fat cakes. I think I’ve mentioned the latter. Have I told you about chicken dust?? It’s grilled chicken served with liphalishi (or rice) and salad of some kind. The “dust” is because it’s sold on the roadside. So yes, you’re probably eating a little bit o’ dust. I like it best when it comes with shredded beetroot salad. I had some today from the car wash in my village, and it was DELIGHTFUL. It came with cole slaw and spicy baked beans. What I didn’t eat (bones and skin, mostly) went to the very pregnant dog on the homestead.

I hope, btw, that we’ll get some puppy photos soon.

Fat cakes are balls of dough cooked in grease. What’s not to like? I try to avoid buying them too often, with varying success.

That, amigos, is basically my diet. Trips to town usually involve treats like soft-serve ice cream or pastries (American-style doughnuts!) from this lovely place called Baker’s Corner. Sometimes I buy Toppers, chocolate sandwich cookies with chocolate cream inside. Those are dangerously delicious.

This is all supplemented with whatever you send me, too. Everything is MUCH appreciated. I even share. The fam seems to like the Tootsie Rolls and Tootsie Roll Pops.