the market

the market is an experience. i go with Rosa, our cook, everyday to get food. we go to a truck full of plantains and buy plantains, then we walk in to a little tent to get makings for the salad, but they try to over charge so we walk to another. then an area with just sacks of beans and scoop out beans and argue a little to lower the price. then we stop to get some oil for cooking. it is full os smells. but if you are picturing a romantic outdoor market, scratch that idea. no, this would not meet FDA standard by any means. our chicken, which is dead and clean, but still a whole chicken, is cut on an cutting board, that is really a log. it is weighed on a scale that i doubt has ever been cleaned. all this just is so incredible to me. i suppose it is by the grace of God that people here are as healthy as they are. i plan the boys meals, with the help of Rosa. I discovered that they are not a fan of corn. oh well, they are going to be exposed to veggies no matter what. today it was peas, but that went over fine. tomorrow squash, maybe? fruit is not a problem we have 3 fruit trees in our yard and we buy them even more. they love fruit. they also love vinegar. i feel like i am really being exposed to situations that i want to deal with in the future. taking a budget, resources and taste buds into account and creating a balanced meal. it is hard but i love it!!! the volunteers eat breakfast at the volunteer house, where there is no stove or fridge. i need to get a balanced meal that 6 to 12 people will like that is inexpensive and requires no special storage (like being kept cold) or preparation, like a stove. we have things such as wheat rolls with peanut butter and apple sause. apple sause is the jelly, because traditional jelly is too expensive. it is like a logic problem, but yummy. i am also enjoying being "house manager," but since time is running out here at the internet cafe i will save that story for later. smiles from the island of hispanola!