Thank you India!

Hi everyone! What an absolutely fantastic time I had in India! I have to say that this week has been the most challenging for me by far, but also the one in which I felt the most culturally immersed! Because of the difficulty of these recipes and the sheer volume of ingredients needed for them, I was only able to make four of the original five I mentioned in my first post for this country. It was fun to make these recipes and the aromatics of each dish was incredible. I really admire how much this culture embraces spice and what the earth and nature have to offer. Indian food is truly a way to bring anyone into the culture of this country. Walking into the local Indian food store near where I live, I was a bit lost but absolutely mesmerized by all there was to buy and cook with. At some points in the trips to the store, I forgot I was in the U.S! Those from India who come over to this country bring with them their culture through their food which I was really able to see first hand this week. I give the people of India credit for how they prepare their food- it is sure tricky and my food wasn't always the best tasting. What I found refreshing though, is that the more I strayed from the recipes because I simply couldn't find the ingredients, the more Americanized they had to become. The more Americanized they became, the less tasty they were. I guess the best way to enjoy Indian food is to do so authentically, respecting their unique ingredients and their incredible cooking skills.I respect more than ever the food of India and how so very much goes into it. I feel much more educated now as far as ingredients of the world go as well. I will forever be grateful for the very kind people at the Indian food store who helped me find what I needed throughout the week. Their friendliness touched my heart. Thank you India for your food that shows the beauty of your culture and your harmony with nature and authenticity.

The beginnings of what I needed to cook this food for the week...

Aratikaay a Masala Pulusu- made with plantains and very tangy.

Maakhidal- very fragrant and somewhat crunchy warm grain salad-like dish

Sambar- very popular in India. It is VERY spicy and can be made in many different ways.

Bobbatlu Poli- sort of like a whole wheat pancake with a sweet gram flour filling

 Sambar powder- a large mix of spices necessary to make Sambar.

I'll Be Back Really Soon!

Hi everyone! I know I haven't posted in awhile. I have been extremely busy and have had a few bumps in the road of my life in the past week or so. I also am having a hard time with Columbia. By the end of the week, I will have my end post for India- I finished the week on time, but I just haven't had time to post about it yet. By the middle of the week, I will begin my week in Columbia. I am very sorry for my short hiatus- it will all get done, I promise. Talk to you soon!

India!

Hey everyone! I have done a ton of shopping since my last post in preparation for a lot of Indian cooking this week! You will hear about my shopping experiences at the week's end, but in the mean time, I wanted to let you know the five dishes I will be making by the week's end. They are as follows:

• Aratikaay a Masala Pulusu- The recipe says it is a "spiced raw banana curry"
• Maakhidal- I am not sure exactly what this is... I'll let you know after I make it
• Sambar- Once again, not sure...but I do know it is from the south of India
• Bobbatlu Poli- The recipe says this is "a traditional dish from southern India." It appears to resemble a bread.
• Kajalu- The recipe says this is like a dessert that is made for celebrations like marriages and "festive seasons." It is from Andhra Pradesh

Here are some of the ingredients that I had to find for these dishes:

• Curry leaves
• Black Mustard seeds
• Curry leaves
• Tamarind concentrate
• Whole ginger (not the powder!)
• Cloves
• Split Black Gram
• Cinnamon sticks
• Toovar Dal
• A Coconut
• Channa dal
• Dhania Seeds
• Many others, most of which were familiar to me. I am so excited though to use these new ingredients! 

I am so excited to try these recipes. I can't wait to tell you about them as well as show you pictures! Talk to you soon!

P.S: Thank you indobase.com for the Sambar recipe and Culture Grams for the others!

Week 8- Off to India!

To India! Picture from travelnotes.org.

 Hi everyone! Today begins my first day in India! This week, I will be embracing the food of India, a large part of its culture. I am a bit nervous for this week, because from what I have heard, Indian food can be somewhat challenging to prepare. There is an Indian grocery store right near my house that is pretty authentic and so I will be going there today for some staples. This week will resemble my week in Canada in that I will be eating one Indian dish with each meal but my meals will not be composed of just the food of this country. As I finish my research for this week, I will compose a list of recipes that I will make by the week's end, just as I did in Canada. Well, I better get started- talk to you soon!

Thank you Eritrea!

Henna on my hand!

Henna on the back of my hand!

Henna- you can get it in a tube and already prepared

Additions to my first hand design

Henna on my foot- this is what it looks like after it dries and you pull off the outer part.

Henna on my leg drying!

Hi everyone! Happy Monday! Yesterday was my last in Eritrea and it was a week that I definitely enjoyed! I did my best with the designs and they didn't always look the very best, but it was still really fun decorating my hands and feet. I learned this week a similar lesson to that in Micronesia. The people of Eritrea are so in-tune with nature and have been for years and years. To be able to take henna, born from a plant and use it to adorn the body is incredible. I admire them for how they see their bodies and how they see the Earth as a means of naturally adorning them. We can really look to Eritrea as we should to Micronesia as we try to save this sick Earth that belongs to us all. The beauty that comes with henna and even coconut oil is true beauty because it connects us all to our roots in nature. It means something to the people of Eritrea to decorate themselves with this natural ink and at the same time, they connect to their culture and the root of everyone-the Earth. Henna may be available at most beaches around the U.S but it may not always be accompanied by the true meaning behind it. Some of this meaning may be connected to the religion of the people of Eritrea, but a lot of the meaning is seated in what I have learned this week- appreciating nature and the human body and connecting those appreciations to each other and to culture. Thank you Eritrea for showing me this meaning!

Week 7- I'm in Eritrea!

Off to Eritrea! Thank you marketplace.publicradio.org for this picture!

Hi everyone! Though I started my journey to Eritrea on time, I just haven't had time to talk about it yet. This week my focus is the use of henna by the people of this country. Usually henna is associated more with the Indian culture, but women of Eritrea use it also to decorate their skin and even dye their hair! Henna comes from a plant and is made into a paste from its powdered form. Designs are made with the paste on the skin and then are left to dry for a few hours. The black layer is rubbed off leaving an orange tattoo of the design underneath. It really looks beautiful. At many American beaches, henna tattoos can be done for tourists but the art originated in countries like Eritrea, located right above the horn of Africa. This week, I will be decorating my skin (hands, feet, ankles, stomach) with henna and if I get adventurous, may even try it in my hair! Though I don't know the traditional designs of Eritrea (I have looked, believe me), I will do my best to avoid Americanized designs. You will see pictures of my attempted artistry on this week's closing post. I think appreciating this art form traditionally this week and not the way many Americans do will be very beneficial! I am excited to continue on in my travels in Eritrea!

Thank You Micronesia!

Organic Coconut Oil... yay!

It looks sort of like Crisco but it melts in your hands and smells like a coconut!

Yes, the back of my head... this is what my hair looked like as it was drying after I took a shower. (I put the coconut oil in before my shower and left it in for a few hours, then rinsed it in the shower). Notice the shine!

 Hi everyone! I know this end post is late, but a wrap-up is a wrap-up! My week in Micronesia was interesting and fun. As the natives of this group of islands do, I put coconut oil in my hair as sort of a conditioner. Where they live, these people also use it as a preventative of lice. Because I incorporate what I do each week into my daily life, I put the oil in my hair every night, though I am not sure if they do the same. They may only use the oil on their bodies and hair every few days. Some days I used the oil on my skin as a replacement for lotion.
The oil looks kind of like Crisco but it melts when it hits your hand to the consistency of any other type of oil. I just smeared it all over my head and left it in for a few hours while I did homework, ate dinner, etc. Once in the shower, I just washed it out with shampoo. Though I had to wash it twice, I didn't need conditioner the entire week! I have to say, it really did make my hair soft and very shiny as I read that it would. My hair smelled a bit like coconut for almost the entire day after I put it on. As for its effects on my skin, it really did work and the dryness on my arms and legs was much improved.
This week, I had sort of a partner in my journey. My brother's fiancee used the oil along with me a few times. She said that it prevents split ends in her hair which she tends to get easily because she uses styling products in her hair. Surprisingly, she said it also prevented her hair from getting naturally oily yet kept her hair very smooth. In her words, "I am going to have to start buying it by the tub!... It's the best!"
All in all, this cultural aspect of Micronesia really taught me how to better appreciate natural remedies. You don't always need expensive, chemical-filled creams, lotions and hair products to improve the health of your hair and skin. Nature really does take care of us in sustainable, natural and safe ways if we let it, just like the people of Micronesia already have. It's incredible that coconut oil can even help with lice prevention, though I thankfully didn't have to test it in that way this week.
It would be a real shame if cultures like that of Micronesia that really appreciate and explore what Mother Nature has to give us were destroyed. We can learn a lot from simple, older ways of living that are in such harmony with the earth. While progress is important, the roots of the earth we all share have a lot to give us. Thank you Micronesia for teaching me more about the beauty of the earth and how something as simple as using coconut oil can make us all more connected to it.

Where Have I Been?

Hi everyone! I am very, very sorry that I haven't posted anything in quite awhile. This week has been absolutely NUTS for me. You can be sure though that I successfully finished my week in Micronesia and have well begun my week in Eritrea. Everything will still be normal- I will still put out the closing post for Micronesia and at least two for Eritrea as I always do- they will be just a bit more smashed together. I have pictures and things to say and will be doing that by the end of the week when things calm down a bit. I haven't stopped anything, my journey is still going as normal, I just haven't had time to upload the pictures I have taken and tell you about my weeks yet. I definitely don't want to put up a lousy post with little to no thought. I want to put up a good one which unfortunately needs to wait until the week's end. Talk to you really soon!

Week 6... Off to Micronesia

Thanks http://japanfocus.org/-Andre-Vltchek/2619 for the picture!

Hi everyone! Wow, I am almost halfway through my journey and am beginning my sixth week in Micronesia. Micronesia is made up of many tiny islands and is located very close to Australia. There are indigenous people in this country who have many very neat and unique aspects to their culture. This week, I have decided to practice something that they do. For the entire week, each day, I will use coconut oil in my hair on my skin as a means of conditioning and moisturizing. These people use coconut oil all of the time for its medicinal effects on the hair and skin. They even use it to prevent lice! I find this practice to be so important, especially because it is one that uses and that is in harmony with nature. I purchased a container of coconut oil in the beginning of the week. It resembles Crisco and smells like well... coconut. I will be putting up pictures of the oil, my hair with the oil in it and my hair after it throughout the week. I will tell you the effect the oil has on my hair, nails and even mood (I read before "travelling" to this country that the oil's odor can be soothing). I will also tell you more about how I am using the oil, following procedures for doing so that I have researched. I am excited to connect to this indigenous, tribal culture of these tropical islands this week. As the world advances, the simple but vital ways of tribes like those of these countries are being deemed unimportant and are diminishing quickly. Hopefully by this week's end, I can give others a reason to believe much differently. Talk to you soon!

Thank you Spain!

 Hi everyone! This week has been great! I apologize for the late post- things have been a bit hectic lately. Though like I said, I don't really like to dress up, I really enjoyed doing so "in" Spain this past week. Above are some of the outfits I wore throughout my time "in" the country. I got lots of compliments and as I mentioned, those compliments and the fact that I was dressed very differently from my usual attire allowed me to share what I was doing with so many people. My one friend even said she was inspired by Spain's tradition of dressing up to go into public. You know, appearance isn't everything, but the fact that Spaniards take time to care about theirs says a lot. I carried myself differently this week as I was wearing this formal attire. I felt more confident. These facts may just be the experience for me, but I think that they are the reasons we can all learn a lot from this cultural aspect of Spain. I am not saying that formal clothes are needed for confidence. However, wearing these clothes make each day a bit more of a special occasion, especially to Americans like myself who don't dress up each time they appear in public. Maybe this tradition of the Spanish people helps them to treasure each day of their lives as special and worthy of breaking out the the skirts, blouses, dress pants and dresses, not because these clothes are needed to make things special, but because society as a whole can see these kinds of clothes as for special occasions. Wearing them in public all of the time shows that the people of Spain see everyday as important, exciting and hopeful. Maybe to them, formal clothes are just as normal as jeans and sweatpants, but for me who looks at their culture with the perspective of an outsider to that culture, this cultural aspect is respectable and so incredibly important to the world. Thank you Spain for showing me a very positive, optimistic and very respectable piece of your culture.

Week 5- Off to Spain!

From: maps.unomaha.edu

Buenos Dias everyone! Sorry it's been a few days since my last post. I am very excited to embark on my week-long journey to Spain! It proved to be sort of tough to find a cultural aspect that I could incorporate into my daily life but after an extra day, I finally found something. Thanks again to CultureGrams, I learned that Spaniards like to dress up when they go out in public. Though this is something small, it is a part of their culture that I can accurately do in my own life this week. Though I can't wear traditional Spanish formal clothing, I can stick to the basic concept of dressing up. Whenever I go out, whether that be to the store, to school or to an activity, I will be wearing "nice clothes" which includes high heels, boots, skirts, dresses, dress pants and that does not include jeans, sneakers, t-shirts or tops that aren't blouses of some sort. I am usually not one who likes to dress up (I'm about as "Plain Jane" as it gets) so this week will prove to be something pretty different for me. Not only that, but the fact that I am all of a sudden wearing dress pants, skirts and dresses to school and everywhere else gives me an opportunity to share with everyone who asks  why I look so different what I am doing. I will show pictures of my daily outfits in later posts this week and will keep you updated. Have an awesome day and if you're anywhere in the U.S that is getting hammered with snow, stay safe! 

Last Day in Canada!

Wow, what a week it has been! Canada has proved to be very enjoyable but also very tiring! I finished off the week with the last two recipes that I promised- pea soup (modern) and wild rice cakes (indigenous). There is something to be said about the food from Canada- while some of these recipes are time-consuming and some down right challenging, you can tell that the people of this country find food to be a way to express love. Taking time to make recipes that express one's culture shows this love very well. This week, my family shared in many of the foods I was eating and I felt great sharing the food with them because I had spent my time preparing the dishes. I also admire Canada even more than I did before because of the way they can keep alive two very different ways of life. The differences between the modern European-inspired dishes and the indigenous dishes were really quite evident by the end of the week. The indigenous dishes were very earthy and simple while the European-inspired dishes were very rich and complex. It's amazing to me that one country can represent both a simple and very satisfying way of life and a more complex but still rich way of life at the same time. I think that there is something very important about both of these ways of life because both have something great to offer. When I was preparing the indigenous food, I felt somewhat connected to the past and to the earth at its simple roots. It was so neat to make the fluffy bread with simply flour and water (and a bit of sugar) that was bannock and have it come out so naturally perfect. I was excited to try foods that were so simple and that carried such a history with them. When I was preparing the more modern food, I felt very culinary, for lack of a better term and very proud in a way to be doing the best I could to put skills in the kitchen together to make something wonderful. It was neat to see a fluffy and very pretty cauliflower souffle after vigorously beating egg whites and whisking together a rue (and staring in the oven to see if it deflated). Through your food Canada, you have shown me the two different but vital ways of life in your culture that can teach the world the things I have learned this week and more. Thank you Canada!

Wild Rice Cakes- I wasn't good at making them into cakes, but they were very good!

Pea Soup- because I don't eat meat, I couldn't put in the pork, but I followed everything else in the recipe, replacing the pork fat for olive oil- very fun to make!

More Pea Soup!

Three Sisters Soup- an indigenous recipe which includes butternut squash, green beans and corn- very healthy and pretty easy to make!

 Hi everyone! I am now half way through my week of Canadian cuisine and am really enjoying it. So far I have made five of the seven I have promised to make by the end of the week. Two have been indigenous foods and three are modern Canadian foods. The dishes can be time-consuming to make, but it is most certainly worth the time. It gives me satisfaction to know that I worked hard to make what I am eating. I have been eating at least one Canadian food with each meal and trying my best to eat the food with snacks as well. Sometimes with snacks, I will eat a small piece of Bannock along with what I am eating. I can assure you that between cooking the food and eating at least one thing with each meal, I am thoroughly experience this cultural aspect. With this post, I have posted a picture of each of the foods I have made so far this week- more will come at the week's concluding post. Have a fantastic remainder of the week- talk to you all soon!

Bannock- an indigenous bread that tastes like a biscuit made from flour, water and sugar- very fun to make and eat!

Apple Pancakes- a very thick and filling pancake with apples and cinnamon- my motivation to get up on time in the morning (if I run out of time though, I eat Bannock and have one of these for a snack).

Cabbage Salad- a Cole-slaw like dish made with cabbage, apples onions and topped with a dressing of sour cream,vinegar and sugar- chopping the cabbage sure took awhile!

Cauliflower souffle-  a delicious dish made with cauliflower, sharp cheddar eggs and milk- the most time-consuming and difficult dish I've made so far, but my personal favorite!

Week 4- Off to Canada!

Off to Canada! Thank you go.hrw.com for the picture!

 Hello everyone! I am so excited to begin my week in a neighbor of my own- Canada! This week, I will be focusing of the cuisine of this country. Because they do not have staples to the extent that the Congo did, I will not be eating only their food, but will instead be eating at least something of their culture in each meal and snack of mine all week. Because Canada has an indigenous culture as well as a French-inspired culture, I will be eating some traditional foods from each of these two pieces of their culture. Thanks to two very helpful websites (listed at the end of this post), I have found 3-4 recipes of both pieces. Yesterday I bought all ingredients and cooked until I dropped. Here are the recipes I will be making this week and eating with each and every snack and meal:

Non-aboriginal food-
-Pea Soup
-Apple Pancakes
-Cauliflower Souffle
-Cabbage Salad

Aboriginal Food-
-Three Sisters Soup- a soup of butternut squash, green beans and corn
-Bannock- a bread that resembles a biscuit made of sugar, flour and water

-Wild Rice Cakes wild rice, cornmeal and some butter

Throughout the week, you will get in-depth descriptions of what some of these dishes are as well as pictures of myself making and eating them. I will have made them all by the end of my journey in this country. For now though, homework awaits me. I will mention quickly though, that today I ate Bannock, Three Sisters Soup and Apple Pancakes, all of which I really enjoyed. Check back throughout the week- I won't leave you all hanging!

P.S- I have had to modify a few things because of my vegetarian diet, but not enough to make large differences in anything. Most of the recipes I have chosen though never had meat products to begin with.

The very helpful websites I have used- Thanks!!:
http://www.foodbycountry.com/Algeria-to-France/Canada-Aboriginals.html
http://www.cajuncookingrecipes.com/canadian/ (it's not just Cajun-promise)

Last Day in Guyana!

Lace on my shelves, a silk flower arrangement and doilies on the chair back and under my laptop

Hello everyone! I hope you all had good weekends. I know this post is a bit late, but my weekend was really chaotic with my brother's engagement, planning for this coming week and many other things. Here are some pictures that I took of my room. As you all know, this week I tried my best with the things I could find, to make my room look like those in the country of Guyana. I had a lot of fun decorating and really enjoyed being able to witness the culture of this country each time I entered my room. As you can see from the pictures, my room is bright already, but for a stronger  point, I posted tissue paper on my wall to mimic the bright colors of the walls of Guyanese homes. I cut the edges of doilies and put them on the edges of my curtains to look like lace curtains as well as on the edges of my shelves for the same effect. I even put full doilies on my desk and dresser. I put three silk flower arrangements around the room and a doily on my chair back to mimic a crocheted effect. Though the details were small, my room did look different by the time my decorating efforts were finished. Like I said, I did the best I could with what I could find and put my creativity into it as best as I could. What I noticed throughout the week was that I felt this strange connection to Guyana, a country that before now, I had really never heard of or knew much about. I felt almost like I was really sleeping and studying and dressing in somewhere other than my room. It felt warmer inside the tiny space and well, different. It is a hard feeling to explain, but it was very neat and something I will never forget. I am becoming more and more amazed each week with how connected I am feeling to these cultures even though the things I am doing are very small. If there is anything I have learned this week, it is that this culture a very warm and cozy one. The home is so important to most of us humans and I can really see that the Guyanese people embrace this in their culture. The way that their decorations flow together paint a certain welcoming picture to their guests and a picture of belonging to those who live in the house. The decorations are simple but pretty and heartwarming. As I am learning more each day of this journey, simple is good, especially when it comes to keep cultures alive. Homes are the place one invites those who they love and those who they would like to get to know more. An invitation to a home is a compliment and an honor. I now see what a fantastic impact the simple style of Guyanese homes have had on me in helping me to further respect this country and its culture. Thank you Guyana for making me feel welcome in your country through the style of your homes.

The edges of doilies give the appearance of flowing lace curtains

A silk flower arrangement and doilies

Tissue paper taped to my wall represent the bright colors that fill the walls of Guyanese homes.

More silk flower arrangements!

Day 2 in Guyana

Good afternoon everyone!! Today is my second day in Guyana but the first day my room is decorated like the homes of this country. Yesterday, I was sick and so I spent the day telling you of my plans for this week, and also thinking of how I was going to decorate my room like this while still in the U.S. Some things I listed yesterday, while they are traditional, are not possible for me to use this week. On the other hand though, some things I did not think I would be able to do this week as part of my "travel" I figured a way to do. Pictures will come later in the week so you can see what I have done so far in my room. I will do my best to add to my decorations as the week goes on and will also make observations as to the effect this cultural aspect has had on me. Enjoy the evening!

Week 3... Off to Guyana!

Hi everyone! Happy Sunday! Today I am off to Guyana, a small country in the northern portion of South America, for the week. The cultural aspect I have decided to follow for the week has to do with the housing of this country. Thanks again to CultureGrams, I have been able to find some ways to decorate my house (specifically my room) to make it look like a typical home of Guyana. I will go out to the store eaither today or tomorrow and find things that are as close to traditional for them as possible, much like I did last week in Myanmar. Some things that I will look for and surround myself with include the following:
-silk flowers
-lace
-bright colors (I will probably hang bright and solid colored cloth)
-velvet on furniture
To be honest, I am a bit nervous about this week. I hope that what I will do will make a difference in the appearance of my room and that I will be able to find these traditional things in American stores. I will keep you updated with pictures and posts. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

My Last Day in Myanmar

Hey everyone! I hope your week went well. I wish I could have blogged a bit more this week, but things have been quite hectic. As promised though, I have made today, my usual transition day, my last in Myanmar. This week has been very positive, I must say, and I have enjoyed "travelling" to this great country. Wearing the clothing of this culture (as best as I could still being in the U.S) has given me more respect for the culture than I went in believing that it could. The pawas I wore each day (the world of this country for a shawl) made me feel, well, pretty and for someone who does not always take their appearance as much into consideration as they should, I felt like the clothes that I wore this week showed me that it is possible to show that you care about how you look without feeling materialistic or too focused on looks. I got many comments this week in regards to the pawas that I wore. The comments ranged from "You look nice today" to "I enjoy your old lady shawl" to "I like your shawl" (which gave me the perfect opportunity to share why I was wearing it). I guess these traditional ways of dressing for the women of Myanmar is just normal dress. From what I have observed this week though, to us, this dress can be formal and very feminine (and maybe to some overly so). Sure we wear shawls here- I see people wear them all of the time, and sure the dress of the women of Myanmar includes a bit more than I was able to include in my daily life,  but an eighteen year-old high school senior wearing one to school is not exactly the norm for many people. Because of this fact, to be honest, I was a bit nervous about wearing a shawl to school at the beginning of the week (one because it isn't the "norm" and two, because I can be considered a "plain Jane" when it comes to my appearance). By the week's middle though, I found myself loving the pawas and blouses more and more. I am usually not too "girly", but this week, I was able to embrace my womanhood more than I usually and through that, I was able to see the beauty of the roles of women in this country. They wear clothes that make them look beautiful without a ton of makeup, hair dye, high heels, expensive purses and so on. I hope that the women of Myanmar feel as "pretty" and feminine as I did this week, not in a submissive woman kind of way, but more as a woman whose stunning inner beauty is as flowing, wispy and colorful and comforting as the pawas they wear as part of their culture. Thank you Myanmar for reinforcing for me the very deep meaning that clothing can bring when it is worn because of tradition, heritage and as an expression of the beauty of womanhood and the inner spirit. I feel close to this country, though I had heard very little about it before my "travels" this week. Thank you Myanmar for allowing me to embrace and live out your spectacular and irreplaceable culture!

Day 3 In Myanmar!

 Hey everyone! Here are the pictures I promised from yesterday. I know that the shirt under the blouse isn't exactly traditional, but the temperatures around here are COLD right now :) I am a bit upset because today I had a snow day, so I won't get to show my "travelling" to many people today. Because of this, I have decided to extend my "stay" in Myanmar all through Saturday, instead of what I usually do, which is make Saturday my transition day. So far I have really enjoyed dressing as the women in Myanmar traditionally do. I feel very feminine, but in a really good way. I have gotten a lot of compliments on my pawas, and they keep me warm. It's a new style, especially in my school where the same fashions are worn by many people. I feel unique, as well as really connected to a country that before now, I really didn't know much about. I am excited about what the rest of the week will bring. More pictures will come through the week along with more posts towards the end. Talk to you soon!

Week 2... Off to Myanmar!

Off we go to Myanmar!!

 Hello everyone! Sorry for the late post. Though I have not written about this week until now, I did start my week on time. This week, I am in Myanmar, formerly called Burma, which is in the south of Asia. I found it a bit tricky to find a cultural aspect that I could follow in my own life, but I did find something! This week, each day I will be wearing a shawl and a blouse as is traditional in this country. Women as well as men also wear a a cloth that wraps around their bottom half called a longyi (worn in different ways for each gender), but I felt like I would not accurately be able to portray this part of their dress because I do not have access to the specific kind of fabric patterns that they wear. The shawls that these women where are called pawas. Though my shawls may not be exactly like theirs, I did my best to find those that are not Americanized and that cover my arms as those of these women do. I am excited to tell you of the comments that people have given me thus far this week and those that they will when I post pictures soon (within the next few days). Thanks goes out to CultureGrams for this week's information. Thank you CultureGrams! Talk to you all soon!

My Last Day "in" Congo-Kinshasa

Hello everyone! It's Saturday- and that means it's my last day "in" Congo-Kinshasa. It has been a challenging but very rewarding week- believe it or not. I never would have suspected that changing my diet to that of another culture would have such an impact on my lifestyle but it really has! I have had to make time amidst the hectic nature of my very American and life to slow down and prepare the foods of this country. While I was missing the foods that I am used to eating, like cheese, gum, tofu and chocolate, I really did enjoy what I was eating and loved to share the origin of it with all who asked about my meals. I will admit that I grew weary in the middle of the week and wanted so badly to go back to my normal foods, but I stuck to it and in the end, felt great both mentally and physically. The staples of Congo-Kinshasa are simple and represent at the core what nature has to give us. I ate normal portions of food and felt full, yet I still lost two and a half pounds by the end of this week. I guess I have never really realized the complexity of the American diet and how it can really become such a mindless task to eat. I know I have the tendency to eat things just because they are in front of me, sometimes failing to think of where they came from and if that place is even in my country. If there is anything that I have learned this week, it is that food should be representative of the kind of life you live and the culture in which you are immersed in everyday. Changing food choices is not easy, one of the reasons that sticking to the foods of one's culture and lifestyle is so important. While we like hamburgers, french fries and pizza here in the U.S and it is more than ok that we do, those foods do not fit with what the people of the Congo stand for or live by. Each day, I was responsible for preparing my meals. I really feel like I have met someone from this place even though I did not once leave my small town. I can tell by the way the food made me feel inside that these people are simple, in a good way. They have picked foods to be their staples that are nutritious and quite filling, and that come from where they come from. Some Americans, myself included, worry so much about what we will eat day to day. We ask ourselves, are we in the mood for this or that, will this make me loose weight, can I pick this up ready-made at the store, should I make something that will give us leftovers because I don't like eating the same thing day to day. I think there is great importance in these questions but only in this culture where food is not simply to eat, but is also a concern, a comfort, a means of good health and so on. From what I have learned this week, those questions don't often come up in the minds of the Congolese people. While they are human beings and have recipes so that they may enjoy their food, their food is simple and they have staples, things that they will give their bodies because their bodies need it. When it comes to nourishing themselves, these people know what they are doing and now more than ever I see that no one has the right to change what is so important to this culture because I have learned that a change in one's eating can change one's life. Our way is not better. Bringing McDonald's and pizza parlors to the Congo is not anyone's place. There is a reason these people eat this way- it is part of who they are and is representative of where they come from and it nourishes. We don't have staples in the United States, at least not that I can think of. I am not saying that these people eat the same foods all of  the time, but often enough to make them staples of their diets. Some would say that we don't have staples because many of us are lucky enough to pick and choose what we want when we want it and that those poor people in Africa are forced to have staples. For many, it is an excuse to call us wiser and better and wealthier and food becomes a means of control. We bring our food to them, they no longer have staples because they become just like us. Then, we can feel good about ourselves that we have given them real food and have made food for them what it is for us. This week has taught me and affirmed for me that that mindset is wrong and dangerous- dangerous to culture and dangerous to these people. These are not people to be pitied. No culture that can make food that makes an American amazed at how good the food makes their body feel should instead be exulted. Again, they know what they are doing. These people may not always have the quantities that they need of their food, but they sure know what will give their body what it needs if there is enough of it. There is that saying, "you are what you eat." There is much truth to that, especially when it comes to culture. I will treat the Congo-Kinshasa culture always with the utmost respect and amazement because it has made me full and healthier, and has given me a reason to keep this culture alive. Never stand for Africa. Stand with it.

Thank you Congo-Kinshasa!

Something to Consider

 Hey everyone! While my adventures "in" Congo Kinshasa are still going well, I wanted to inform you of something else that was just brought to my attention (I told you I didn't want to bore you with lists of food every day) that relates to the nature of this blog. I just heard that there are plans being made to build a highway in Tanzania RIGHT THROUGH the Serengeti! This is destructive in so many ways- animals are at risk of dying or of losing their wild nature and the culture of Tanzania is threatened greatly as well. I would urge you all to check out www.savetheserengeti.org and join the effort to stop this terrible mess. An easier travel route (if the highway will even provide that) is not at all worth the absolute beauty of the Serengeti and all it offers to the world. Because this plan will threaten the culture of Tanzania, I thought I would share the news... and a way to help, with you. I apologize for getting sidetracked from the usual nature of my posts, but this issue is important and in conjunction with what I am trying to do with this blog.

Day 2 "in" Congo-Kinshasa

Hey everyone! So it's Monday; my first day back to school after Winter Break and my second day "in" Congo-Kinshasa (when I say in, I mean emmersed in the cultural aspect I have chosen for the country- I am still in the U.S.)! It has been going well so far with exception to the beans which are giving me a stomach ache! This morning, I had a light breakfast as the Congolese do which consisted of a slice of bread. My lunch mimicked my dinner from last night in a smaller portion and without the beans (I had to give my stomach a break). At school I got comments that the lunch looked good- just what I want to hear :). For a snack I put two staples together- bananas and peanuts (peanut butter is the form I am choosing to have). I have a hankering for cheese but this very Americanized food is not really in the African culture based on my research. I will not cave in though- I have a feeling that my diet for the week will come to good. I am posting every day so far just to keep you updated because my journey has just begun. I realize within the next day or two, reading lists of the food I have eaten will get old. You will always get a post though at the end of the week with overall reactions and how the week has contributed to the overall purpose I have for this adventure. Posts midweek will come as they are needed. Just thought I would mention that tonight I am trying cumin sauce with my dinner. Traditionally, the sauce is served with chicken, but I will be eating it over my regular staples- as I mentioned, I don't eat meat. I let you know how the sauce tasted and such along with the showing of my pictures at the week's end. If you don't see a post, don't worry. I just don't want to become a bore rambling on about my day to day food (I also tend to get a lot of homework, but that's beside the point)! Talk to you real soon- off to the store for ingredients!

My First Day "In" Congo-Kinshasa

I know it's been less than half a day since my last post, but  I wanted to update you on my first day of eating strictly Congolese food. I made sure to take pictures of everything that I ate to serve both as a visual representation as well as proof that yes I am actually preparing all of this and eating it every meal. I didn't eat breakfast today mainly because I was in a rush but here is what my lunch looked like:
I ate beans, corn, mango and rice. The mango was cut by me (not the kind you can buy in a container at Costco) and the rice cooked by me. I warmed up the beans and corn and ate the whole meal with only some salt as seasoning. I was surprisingly full after I was finished only a plate and a bit of extra rice. Usually I have a very large appetite but not today- I didn't even need a snack in between lunch and dinner.

And my dinner:

My dinner looked a lot like my lunch because my lunch contained much of the staple foods of the people of this culture. The only addition to dinner was Fufu which is very similar to mashed sweet potatoes but a bit fluffier due to vigorous mixing. There is a bit of butter added to the yams but not much. For some reason the Fufu tasted sweeter than the mashed yams I have had but I'm not sure why. I boiled the yams whole (which took forever), skinned them and then mashed them. It was a lot of work to get this meal ready and it felt great to eat it afterwards. The smells of the dish and the work it involved reminded me a lot of my time in Tanzania and the food we ate while we were there. I am really enjoying the food so far but we'll have to see :). I must say, almost two hours after eating I am still pretty full. The rest of the night I may have a banana and peanut butter, both parts of the list that was in my earlier post.  Day one completed!
P.S- Thank you CultureGrams for the Fufu recipe!!

This is the fufu- just thought I would prove I actually made it. That wooden spoon reminds me of the Ugali (a cornmeal mush) spoons they use in Tanzania

The Journey Begins... "off" to Congo-Kinshasa!

Off we go to Congo-Kinshasa!!

 Happy New Year everyone! I wish you all the best in 2011, especially my classmates who will be graduating this year! My journey begins this day in Congo-Kinshasa, a relatively large African country in the middle of the contient. During my week in this place, I will be exploring the diet of its people. In my research of the country, I have found that the "staples" of their diet include:
-rice
-bananas
-yams
-beans
-fruit like papayas and mangos
-corn
-fish
-peanuts (which I will be eating in the form of natural peanut butter).
-cassava

I will be replacing my diet this week with these items, in order to hopefully prove that I can be just as happy in the midst of putting my American diet away. By the week's end, you will know how this travel has effected me with descriptions of different Congolese recipes I will have tried with these ingredients, as well as the preparation and eating of these foods. I will eat no "American" food at all this week and no food that strays from those in the diet of the Congolese people. The only two issues I have encountered with the diet of these people is their eating of fish (I am a vegetarian) and cassava (I have not been able to find this in the grocery store yet). However, I have come to the conclusion that there are plenty of other staples that I can eat all week, and that not eating one  or two will not hurt. If anyone knows where I can find cassava though, please let me know- I thought I would try Whole Foods.

To avoid confusion, I would also like to clarify that this week I am "travelling" to Congo-Kinshasa, not to be confused with its neighbor Congo-Brazzaville. Congo-Kinshasa is often referred to as the Democratic Republic of the Congo and is the country my finger landed on a few weeks ago.

I would also like to source my research so far. The CultureGrams database has helped me a great deal in finding very accurate cultural facts for this adventure. Thank you CultureGrams!

Well, I'm off to start preparing my first meal of Congo-Kinshasa! Talk to you soon!