Lunch is Served

Hello again!

Thanks for sticking around. I'm picking up right where I left off.

So, the one thing that I was especially nervous about when coming to Senegal, was the food. I can officially say that all my worrying was for naught. We went to this restaurant called Djembe, which is in downtown Dakar (It was really weird that we were one of the few customers). The service was excellent and the food was delicious. I ordered brochettes, which are fish kabobs. The fish was seasoned to perfection, moist and plentiful. 

A djembe is a very common drum across many countries in Africa.

Look at this deliciousness. The diced goodness on the left was a sort of slaw.

Apparently it is very common to eat fruit as a dessert in Senegal. I was so full, I could barely finish my bananas and pineapples.

I found it interesting that the owner was white, I'm not sure of his ethnicity or nationality though. Very courteous, and hospitable. Blame it on my unworldliness/naivete.

Gele Ayiti Bezwen on Mugabe Tou

Skype Convo with a friend in the states on Sept 9th

I went to cash a check, this guy who owns a bunch of businesses in Jacmel also cashes checks at his gas station. The director cashes her checks there & sent me there to cash min as well. When I get there, they're like "Oh well since we've never cashed a check for you before, we won't be able to do it", Im like "Of course you've never cashed a check for me, this is my first time here".  When they asked how I heard of them, I told them Hagar  (the director) & the Haitian guy that I was speaking to went to ask the white guy (owner) and he comes back & says "There isn't any money". I was gonna take out $100 so then I said ok, then can I take out $50? He's like "No, I can't because we've never cashed a check for you". I call Hagar & she's like "Oh well it's because they would lose out if the check doesn't clear so I'll just go with you later". I'm thinking 1. If you really thought that, why would you send me there knowing that they wouldn't cash it? 2. Why do I need her to vouch for me? 3. If i were white would they have cashed it with out all of the back & forth nonsense?

Pa fwa mwen santi 'm aneve

Sometimes I find myself being Haiti's defender, particularly when in contact with Whites.  Regardless of how long they've been in the country, I still feel like I'm more of an insider than they are especially in regards to relating with the people.  I think it's because I'm Haitian by blood and birth.  That connects me to the land and the people more than a little blue booklet.   I know that we as people tend to prejudge and make a lot of generalizations, but for some reason that bothers me when those generalizations and prejudices are about Haitian culture, and her people.  It is especially difficult when these generalizations or stereotypes are coming from people who are currently living and working in Haiti.  It's weird being in my shoes, because although I'm very American in Haiti; I identify with Haitians when interacting with Whites.  Until I open my mouth they've already lumped me in with Haitians anyways; so why should I try to identify with them?