Food

In Singburi I was spoiled by Kanya’s cooking and the inexpensive meals in the markets.  I got a taste of being much closer to the source of food, i.e. live fish, pig heads, and cubes of chicken blood.  However in Issan it is more difficult.  At the party they had last week the women were all busy making something.  Some were slicing chiles, some were chopping meat, some were cooking.  I asked about a few things and was taken aback.  One woman was soaking chicken feet, one was chopping liver and the steak was chopped and served raw.  I am learning to be way more careful about what I eat.

At home, there is some kind of seafood and is the whole body.  It is rubbery and it makes me gag.  I sort through bowls of food looking for vegetables.  Usually there are some, sometimes quite a few.  This morning we had squash and mushrooms along with rice.  There was also the fish leftover from last night.  When served, it included the head and I think most of that was eaten. 

I gained weight with Kanya and Sutin, but I suspect here I will lose it.  I fill up on rice because it is always served and I know what I am eating.  There is fruit from time to time, but I think it is expensive.  It gets eaten fast when it is here.  I am anxious to be in charge of my own food, but I am learning about things here.  We had a snack of a veggie this morning that looked like a potato but was sweeter and we ate it raw.  I need to know some of those things or I would probably overlook them in the market.  I also need to learn where to shop.  Pawn goes in the morning on the motorcycle, which I am not allowed on, so I am not sure where to get fresh food.

Lots of down time right now, so I am riding my bike and investigating.  People are friendly and if I can make myself understood I can usually find what I am looking for.

I listen carefully to conversation and am not picking up much.  If I use my limited vocab they understand me, but I still cannot follow a conversation.  Frustrating to say the least.

As I sit here in the internet cafe composing, I realize it has started to rain and someone moved by bike up under the awining so it would not get wet as I complain about the food........... sigh