The Food

There’s nothing wrong with rice and beans. Thankfully, there is a lot more to my diet than just that. The ‘typical plate’ is beans, rice, avocado, and an egg. More often than not that is my breakfast and dinner, and I’m actually a really big fan. The only part that is a little too much to stomach sometimes is the fact that no food goes un-fried here (well, not the avocado). Just the other night I had a dish called Quesillos, which entails two tortillas with cheese in between and on top, fried till it’s crunchy. About four of those went down the hatch with some other fried concoction that resembles a home-style fry sandwich with more cheese. This really got the digestive system lubed-up and feeling funky. If I keep this up, these two years might end up taking two years off my life!

In reality though there are healthy options too. Some of the best fruit I have ever tasted has been in the last 4 months. Bananas, pineapple, oranges, mangos, and more are easily found, but some only during the right time of year. Fortunately, I caught the tale end of the mango season when I first got here, but now I have to wait a while for that bliss to come about again. However, when it does, the farthest I have to go is ten feet from my door to my family’s mango tree!

As far as keeping healthy, the situation is this. All my meals are with my family because there really is no other option, and I really want to eat as they do and not be rude. Also, when they put a plate of food in front of me I am compelled to finish it all. It’s like when your mom tells you to finish your food because in some parts of the world other kids are starving; well now they’re my neighbors. No not really, I’m just being dramatic. My town is actually a pretty well off coffee town, but I have seen gut-wrenching poverty since living here, and that’s what really comes to mind.

So, you say, why doesn’t he just tell them to serve less? This has been done many times and has not changed a thing. The way I figure it is it’s either because I pay for my meals so they think I should get my money’s worth, or more likely, they think I’m too skinny because I don’t have my set of llantas (spare tire) yet. Give it time. I will.