A TASTE OF TANZANIA

Part of the fun in exploring a different culture is sampling the food. Fatuma (who is used to hot food only) has done that here.

But then we turned the tables. She prepared a typical Tanzanian dinner for my family - masala rice with potatoes, lightly cooked cabbage with carrots and green pepper, a beef-tomatoe stew, chipati (thin bread), and more.

Not only was the food different for the Americans, but they were introduced to the muslim custom of having their hands washed at the table with a pitcher of water and bowl to catch it - plus they got to eat with their fingers (which the kids - including two Japanese exchange students - delighted in).

And Fatuma was able to cook it all on a 6-burner gas stove in a beautful huge kitchen instead of on the floor on a tiny charcoal stove! Though habit dies hard, and she did bend over to transfer one pot into another on the floor.

The next evening, we were treated to an eat-with-your-hands North African meal at Horn of Africa restaurant in NE Portland (local friends - if you haven't already, try this wonderful restaurant!). Friends Jeanne Kemp-Ware and Suzanne Graham, who visited Tanzania with us last year, joined us for a wonderful evening,sharing delicious food and the photos they took on our trip.

Fatuma and I also enjoyed a day trip to the Oregon Coast. Photos below!