First Meal

shortly after we landed, michael and the rest of the team arrived. i quickly introduced myself to them all then said goodbye as half of them boarded the same plane. some were headed to uganda and others back to the states.
now for the 3 hour drive back to mundri...not before stopping for some african cuisine on the side of the road. they had planned lunch at home, but had to make a quick change in plans. we pulled over to eat at what appeared to be a small concrete hut, just big enough to fit one table and 6 chairs. there was one thing on the menu. first, a generous serving of kodra, a white type of maize that had a sticky, almost doughy consistency. this was paired with a bowl of lina, a soupy and slimy green substance, which actually tasted like collard greens. oh and placed in the middle of the lina was a chunk of goat meat, which was quite tough. the idea was to pinch off the doughy stuff and dip it into the green soup. no utensils needed. and so i did. the taste was not bad at all. i did have to get past the textures and consistency of the food, but over all i gave myself points for being adventurous.
after our bellies were full, we headed for a 3 hour drive home, mostly spent weaving around pot holes in the dirt rode.
i instantly felt welcomed by the team. they are so warm and friendly and all have a great sense of humor. most the of ride back i found myself laughing at all the stories they told. dinner that night was spaghetti! definitely one of my favorites. i was surprised to see their fully stocked kitchen and pantry. everyone rotates a turn to cook for the team. i'm assigned to dinner this saturday and will give you a full report of the outcome.
so far the adjustment period has gone well. i am looking forward to getting to know the team better and learning more about sudanese culture.