National Condiment

Possibly one of the biggest differences that I've encountered since I've been has been the food, particularly the availability of certain foods. With the exception of the Banjul and surrounding area, there are no fast food joints, delis, or white table cloth establishments. In village, there is no ordering a pizza when your feeling lazy and don't want to cook. Good bye McDonald's, Subway, Taco Bell.

This is not to say there aren't places that emulate the look, feel, and to some extent, taste of a franchised eatery. However, the cost of experiencing Western-style dining is 'A Koliyata' (difficult). A few weeks ago, I splurged and when to a classy, white tablecloth place named GFC.

Yes, you did successfully deconstruct that acronym into it's full, but cumbersome form. Gambia Fried Chicken. It had air-conditioning, it had beer, and unexpectedly, had good pizza.

So, since the American tradition of 'eating out' on a regular basis is not fiscally responsible, what do people eat here? How do they manage? You're probably thinking lots and lots of rice, and you are correct. But only half correct.

Sugar......ridiculous amounts of sugar. And not just your run-of-the-mill, white, granulated sugar, but the thick, syrupy, sticky variety commonly known as sweetened condensed milk. It's amazing what you can do with it. You can add it to your tea, your nescafe, your juice. You can add kool-aid, and freeze it in little baggies to sell as 'ice'. You can reduce it over low heat, and roll it into little 'butterscotch' balls. It's everywhere. It's a phenomenon. As a side project, I think I'm going to start a diabetes awareness club.

Seeing the people here mixing it into everything, it's a bit akin to the 'ranch dippers' you find in America. My sister was one of those, putting ranch on french fries, baked potatoes, pinto beans, and sometimes salad. Since those days, I think she has detoxified, and is clean and sober. I'm proud of you, Amy.

--Junkung