eating with...

only your right hand. yes, that is how to properly eat in bangladesh. you should avoid handing things to people with your left hand as well. of course, i botch this daily.

last night...i was given quite the task...to peel shrimp with only my right hand. we went to a 4 yr olds birthday party--the son of Prodip, the prosthetist who creates the limbs. the party was classic...small children running around the house with party hats on (which is a treat)...all hyped up on the possibility of eating cake and opening gifts. the kids sat at my feet on a rug...and listened as scripture was read and they were prayed over. they all "shhhhed" each other and attempted to pay attention. then the moment came...when they handed a knife, yes a knife...to the 4 yr old. it is tradition that the child cuts his own cake. can you say scary? all i could envision was blood and cut fingers :) it turned out to be fine--he cut a slice from his cake and sweetly fed each child a bite...with his right hand.

we were then fed our 2nd meal that night--we weren't sure if food was in the forecast (and what it would be) so we ate a bit at home. turns out...we were given quite a feast. the table was set...and all 6 white people ate first. i felt bad about this at first...then realized it is because bangladeshi people do not eat until late in the evening. they wait until later in the night to cook as it is scorching outside.

so...we took our places and ate by candle light. the parents of the child as well as close family friends stood near the table wanting to meet our every need. as soon as i finished one thing...or hinted that i like the taste...there was more on my plate. i learned quickly to say no more please. our feast included: rice (which is a staple item here--people eat 2, yes 2 plates of rice at every sitting), cooked pumpkin, shrimp, chicken, daal (lentils with spices) and veggies. the flavors were unreal and eating it all with your hands...rather, hand...was a blast. you could definitely tell that the experienced missionaries were more skilled...than i was. the wife of the home offered me a spoon...which i kindly declined. i may not be skilled...but i was having fun mashing up my food and doing what every kid wants to do--play with your food. i decided...i will cook foods like this when i am a mom...and make my kids only eat with their right hands...just for fun.

today...i have been under the weather. nothing major--coughing, sneezing and a headache. i am taking meds and drinking fluids hoping this will pass. i skipped church this morning (friday is the holy day) and slept in. i am about to go on a scheduled boat ride in the bay of bengal...and i can not wait to see the thatched roof, mud huts from up close. life here is so different.

i am starting to ask myself questions like...if i could eat anything right now what would it be? a filet mignon comes to mind. and jason's deli salad bar. all in good time. as for today, ill pump myself full of drugs and go learn more about this distant land.

blessed,

megs <><