When we’re out in My Village, it’s not all about the houses, but there’s a lot of language, culture, and relationships, too. This last time out there I was able to get a few pictures to show you that I really do work and not just goof off. 🙂 The above picture is of me and two other ladies from my courtyard pounding corn to get it off the cob. After that, there are still many steps to be taken before it can be eaten, but I won’t bore you with all of those here. (Besides, I don’t know how to say them all in English.) When there are three of you pounding at the same time, you have to be in sync so you don’t hit each other’s pestles (isn’t that what the big stick is called in English? Together with the bottom piece, I think it’s called a mortar and pestle, so I think that the bottom piece is the mortar and the stick is the pestle. If I’m wrong, please correct me so I can improve my English). Then, if someone takes a break so it’s just two of you, the rhythm changes so that the two of you can sync.
This is one of the last steps to be done before that corn above is ready to eat – make it into “to” (pronounced “toe”), a type of cornmeal mush. This is a bigger pot than they normally cook it in, since it was for a bunch of people all helping out at my host dad’s field that day. When they make it in such a big pot like this, they all take turns stirring it. I’m still learning, so they didn’t let me have a very long turn. Yet.
Sharlee Lea says
We love to hear what you are up to there, Susie! we pray that you are strengthened daily for all that God has for you there. We pray for perserverance and JOY, for good health and PATIENCE, for wisdom and GRACE! thank you for being willing to go… we count it a privilege to stand with you in prayer! Love in Christ Sharlee and Gord in Canada