Tanzanian cooking and Seven Pounds

7/10/10 – Saturday

Today was a relaxing miscellaneous day as well. Yesterday, I asked Lucy if I could come to her house the next day to learn how to cook her delicious meals. She said yes, of course. I asked her when she starts cooking for dinner. She said she starts at 4pm. OMG!! She starts around 4pm everyday to cook for dinner at 7pm. So around 4pm, I walked over to Lucy. I ran into Zephaniah and remembered to take his picture. 

I walked into Lucy’s house and was greeted by the Bogumil family, who had come to Nyakato for the birthing center dedication. Later, we found out that this was an interesting family.

Cooking was Lucy was such a wonderful experience. For those who know me, you know how much I love food. Therefore, my love of food has made me love to cook. I’m still learning how to cook Korean food from my mom. I’ve taken a cooking class when I was in Italy. However, this was another experience. I know I’ve mentioned Lucy’s delicious dinners, but I can’t praise her food enough. So we started by cutting cabbage, green bell peppers, carrots, onions for the cabbage dish and some for the chicken dish. I was surprised to learn that she only added salt and oil to cook the cabbage dish. The chicken we cooked later in a tomato sauce, but not like spaghetti sauce, more like a stir-fry sauce. Another lady, named Ruthie, was outside washing the rice and cooking it over a makeshift stove fire. She also cut potatoes to make chips (fries in America). We also made beans and cut a pineapple for dessert. Next, I learned how to make Japathi, something I’m definitely going to make when I get back to the states. As we were rolling the dough, I enjoyed the time to learn more about Lucy. She used to have a catering company before she came to Nyakato. She has one son in college and a daughter living here, who attends secondary school. By the end of the night, I felt comfortable calling her Mama Lucy. So now I have a mama, a twin, and a grandmother in Tanzania!

After dinner, everyone went to watch the World Cup match between Germany and Uruguay. I was tired and decided to stay home. I ended up watching the movie Seven Pounds. If you haven’t watched the movie, then stop reading the following. I really had no idea what the movie was about before I watched it and everyone I asked said you just need to watch it. So from the beginning, I was confused on what was happening. The whole time, I was wondering why is he going to commit suicide?! Why?! Then at the end, the answer becomes transparent. It is a well made movie and I think Will Smith did a great job with the character. It was one of those movies that have a certain effect on people. After watching how someone has given his life for the lives he has taken, I can’t help but to feel that life on earth is short, fleeting, and fragile. Then I thought about the emotional complexity of people and situations and circumstances of people’s lives everyday. I couldn’t help but to be thankful for where I was in my life. I’ve been blessed with many things. Blessed with wonderful family and friends, the ability to do what I’m passionate about, and blessed with necessary needs being met. However, I always believed that these blessings did not matter unless I am able to share it with others. Yes, life is fragile, but it’s what we make of it everyday. Thanks be to God for He taught us how to love and for His provision.