Eating has become more about fuel and less about pleasure. I broke down and have decided to support the local economy and hired a women to cook for me. She will cook two nights a week and the meals will be a combination of local dishes and some western dishes. She has lots of experience cooking for westerners and the meals are well balanced and much nicer then anything I have been cooking for myself.
Last week was the first week she cooked for me and it was heavenly. Typically I've been having a sandwich, soup or some version of breakfast food for dinner. Eggs for dinner have become a favorite since lunch is typically carb-overload and I feel like I'm developing a protein deficiency.
Cooking here isn't like back home, it's so much more involved. I have a gas oven and you have to use a thermometer to tell how warm the oven is. I have no idea how to cook this way. I did learn how to light it and used it last night to warm up a beef patty I bought at the french bakery. Maybe this weekend I'll take on the challenge of cooking chicken or something? Assuming I can get one that someone else kills, cleans and cuts it up in to pieces that look like something you'd find in a western grocery store. Lol, I'm not ready for learning those skills just yet.
Lunch is provided by the hospital. Everyone eats the same thing, there aren't options. It costs $9 a month to feed each employee at the hospital. There is always rice and usually enough on your plate to feed a small village. I have mastered the hand gestures to convey to the food service staff "half of that, please." The main food item has been one of these; beans, okra, small pieces of beef tips or some lentil chickpea mixture. There is always some piece of fruit, mostly melon this time of year. Then a piece of nan (bread) and for beverages its hot tea or water.
We have gone out to eat twice since I have arrived. One night we went to a BBQ place. I'm not a huge red meat eater and during grad school I had really reduced my meat intake. But I saw steak on the menu and couldn't resist, again I think its a protein thing. It was 12oz rib-eye and absolutely so good. As an appetizer we ordered nachos. They aren't the same as back home but they work. I attached a photo of them since words can't really describe what they look like here.
The second place we went out to was a government party. The organization that hosted the evening is here training the national lawyers in how our legal system works with the goal of improving the legal system here. They have training centers in several of the providences and their work sounds fascinating. Every other week they have a dinner and we were invited to attend. The food, amazing - hamburgers and shrimp on the grill. I have to figure out how to get invited regularly. Rumor has it that sometimes they even have ice-cream!
Twice we have ordered take-out. Once was from Pizza Brazil and the second place was Indian food. The pizza was thin crust and not bad. Again similar to home but not really the same. Indian food was pretty good and generally that isn't something I tend to eat.
There is the French Bakery and in addition to beef patties they have some great desserts. Sometimes on the way home from work we can stop there. Its a cute little place and they have different types of bread, cookies and donuts. They also sell eggs, yogurt and milk. I believe the owners of this place train nationals how to cook the food items that are sold in the bakery.
I think until I get a better handle on the language, cooking will be a challenge. Fruit and vegetables are sold in the smaller roadside stands, English isn't their strength and Dari isn't mine. Last night a few of us walked to a stand around the corner from our apartment and I was able to get bananas. Between not understanding the language and how to order the fruit in kilograms, its stressful. Everything is weighed in kilograms and I know 1kg = 2.2 lbs but how does that translate into paying for 3 bananas? Also depending on when you get to these stands, the quality of the fruit and veggies varies.
We make it work and no worries I'm not starving. Plus I'll start language lesson next month which will be so helpful.
Keep Smiling!
