Let’s start with Tabaski. So, based on the assumption that you read my last post, you know what it is. And if you didn’t read the last post, go back right now and do it. I’ll wait. Are you done? Good. Let’s continue. So. Tabaski. Let’s just say that this holiday is unlike any other. Or just like every other, however you want to say it. But let’s back up to the killing of the rams. Two words: complete disappointment. Now you start to talk about slaughtering something and the women here start to cringe. Therefore, I assumed that it would be gross and I wouldn’t want to eat meat for the next two years. Exciting, right? Sadly enough, all they did was slit its throat and bleed it out into a hole in the ground. Although, I did learn by mere observation that when their throats are slit, the excrete everything that was left in their bladders and intestines. But I guess I would too if someone slit my throat and bled me out. I’m also not going to test that theory. My apologies. The word on the street is that the gross part is when they gut the poor guys, which I didn’t see. But it was pretty gross when my brother brought down a tub of guts and started playing with it. Just saying.
Now, this holiday is like the 4th of July. After cleaning out the ram, we grilled a bunch of ram ribs and ate them, which ram ribs create more smoke than an entire case of burgers! And it made me miss That’s the 4th of July part. Now enter Thanksgiving. I gorged myself seven, yes seven, times. I guess gorge is not the proper term, but I ate that many times. Let’s count them together!
1. Breakfast. Bread with raspberry jam and butter. Malaria pill and a glass of water.
2. Post-slaughter meal. Grilled ram ribs, French fries, pickles, onions and olives. Don’t forget homemade mayo (one egg and probably two cups of oil… nassssssssty!) and mustard.
3. Pre-lunch meal. Grilled ram liver with mustard.
4. Pre lunch snack. Crepes and cake. Really delicious.
5. Lunch. Grilled ram, I think. With lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers and mustard. This is where I gorged myself on lettuce and tomatoes, which I now like plain. It’s amazing what Africa does to you!
6. Post-lunch meal. Ram stew over rice with bread and beans.
7. Dinner. Grilled ram with French fries, vegetables and ketchup and mustard. (real treat was the ketchup here!)
8. Whoa. Make that eight times. I went home and had crepes again.
Now, between lunch and post-lunch (or pre-dinner) I changed into my bling boubou. Now, as I said, it was bling, but that didn’t stop me from feeling COMPLETELy ridiculous. I couldn’t walk very well, but I did it anyway. Some man at a boutique (like a convenient store) told me I was looking good. To which I responded that I could not move, so he decided to teach me. And they way I was supposed to walk made me look even more ridiculous! Oh well. :)
To go back which holiday Tabaski is like, I’m throwing in Christmas, because everyone gets together and spends the day hanging out, which made me miss home just a little. Especially since Thanksgiving is this week! And, I also received a present from the two young guys who work at the boutique in front of my house! (So I brought them crepes.)
On a great Tabaski end note, Suzanne, a girl who frequents the house, cleaned and played with the ram testicles. I didn’t ask when we would be eating them. That was not on my agenda.
Moving on to the next topic, goats. They are EVERYWHERE. They are my favorite decoration on campus. And currently, they are all having babies! So instead of goats, there are baby goats! They are incredibly cute. I’d give you some pictures, but I didn’t upload them yet. I know what you’re thinking, but give me a break, I saw them today! Anyway, I’ll post some pictures later.
Ile de Goree. I have been there before, but Alison asked me to go with her, so I decided I would accompany her. We successfully took the ferry across to the island and disembarked, avoiding paying the 500 cfa tax to walk around the island. We walked everywhere. It’s cool, extremely colonial. I don’t feel like writing, so I’m just going to post and narrate pictures. Sorry. But I did successfully get into a fight with two people. And I met a tour guide. And I interviewed him yesterday and met his family. And I’m going to eat there again on Saturday! I’m glad I made the move to talk to that guy.
And, in another pathetic attempt to get mail from home, I’m feeling incredibly homesick right now. So please, send me something. Thanks.
And sorry, no narration, my computer is about to die.
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