- There is one large plate/bowl, at least 1.5 ft in diameter, containing a carb such as rice or couscous with a pile of meat and some vegetables in the middle. There is extra sauce on the side for people to be served, and sometimes we also have a baguette.
- Everyone sits around the plate with clean hands and/or a spoon. The imaginary pie-shaped section in front of you is your space to eat from, with the meat and vegetables in the center being for everyone. BUT, the head woman of the house (which in my case is about 5-6 people) is in charge of taking that meat and vegetables and breaking it up and giving it to each of the others. Most of them eat with their hands in a way that is very graceful compared to how it was when I tried to do it. I am consistently given a spoon or fork and a towel to put on my lap.
- When you are done, get up and leave, otherwise everyone will keep shoving more food toward you. Also DO NOT use your left hand. That is rude. Also don't take a second spoon or handful before you have finished swallowing the first. Pace yourself.
Needless to say, it's a very communal activity, altough I am rarely part of the conversation, since they primarily speak wolof and I don't know that much yet. Their concept of language is very different than ours; since there are at least 12 different languages in this small country, they are used to not understanding others sometimes, and it is not considered rude at all to speak a different language in front of others who don't. Right now that is rather hard, but especially because I live with little kids I am picking up more and more as time goes on.
I am getting used to being sweaty all the time and to having a much different concept of time. I can't seem to wrap my mind around what having been here for 2 weeks really means.
I hope you all are doing well. If you can't post a comment and want to, just email me. I don't get to use the internet that often, but often enough!
Peace,
Caitlin