Africa

I'll be heading to Africa again this July to work with people with HIV/AIDS and to build a library. (So real soon I'll begin begging for money and if you want to make a tax deductible donation contact me.) Last time we built a school for children with disabilities...their motto "Disability is not Inability."

Part of the group met last Sunday and I've begun to transition the travel blog (www.boardingpasses.org) to look more "African." In doing so I reread some of the posts and thought I would share one here. I can't wait to go back!

This Little Piggy
Jun 19, 2007, post by Larry
The other day we were asked what we might want to eat. A list was created. On the list was pork. I like a piece a bacon now and then so part of me was a little excited for something different.

For dinner that night we had the pork. The room we eat in is lit only by a single flouresent bulb so most everything is cast in a hard shadow. I looked into the tub of pork and thought, “Well, I’ve got to try everything.” It was dark so I was trying really hard to find the best piece (I had had a run in with a scary chicken leg a couple nights earlier.) After a brief search I found a couple of pieces that looked pretty good.

I started eating our regular fare of rice, cabbage, potatoes, and things were going well. Then I decided to try the pork. I picked up the piece of meat examined it and took a bite. I can’t really remember the taste, I think it was charcoal. A little like what I imagine chewing a burnt rubber band would taste like.

Munch.

Munch.

Munch.

I swallowed that piece and then John says, “Well look at that, I think you have the ear.” Gulp. I looked at the remaining piece of meat on my plate with horror. Not only was it truly the ear, but it was covered in stringy hair. Never have I had a serious gag reflex from eating something until now. Needless to say that experience ruined my appetite and I have yet to venture into the meat bowl again…I’m a bit traumatized.