The Food in the Jungle

The Food in the Jungle

I’m not trying to complain or be gross. I’m just trying to be honest with you all how I felt and what it was like.

That night as we climbed up the hill to eat with the General, I wanted to cry. Who knows what we were going to eat for dinner. It ended up looking like orange diarrhea or green throw up mush. (Again not trying to be gross, I’m just describing what was in my head.) I went for the green mush and it tasted a little better than what it looked. I could only take so much of it and ate a huge bowl of white rice dry. So meal one was down.

I am not a breakfast eater. I never have been. I will eat a little something (American) like half a Pop-Tart, small bowl of cereal, or a biscuit with strawberry jelly. Here it’s the custom where ever you go and visit, you eat! I finally asked how come they are still so skinny if they eat so much. Their answer was parasites eat the food in their stomach and also they walk every where. They laughed about the parasite but I think I’m beginning to believe them from what I’ve seen them eat.

So that morning I was up at 5:00 a.m. because that’s when all the Soldiers started chanting their morning routine. (We were staying on a Military Base.) Bundled up in a blanket, I went down stairs and to my dismay breakfast was already being prepared. I fixed a cup of strong coffee and chose eggs and more white rice. It actually made me sick eating that early. Next stop was another breakfast at 7:30 a.m. Thank the Lord for eggs and rice again. I didn’t eat much because I honestly did get sick. I quietly told someone so they would know why. Instead it was announced to the whole table of about thirty people. I was quiet embarrassed, but I guess it’s a custom to announce if someone is sick so they can understand why you aren’t eating a ton of their food so they won’t be offended.

Late that night I went to my bag to get out my loaf of bread for some comfort food that I bought for this journey. Well a cat found it first. It ate through my bag and five slices. That didn’t stop me folks. The next day I ate the bread underneath what the cat ate with peanut butter. I actually couldn’t believe how much strength I gained eating just that! Our bodies are just so different of what gives us energy and protein it’s truly incredible.

I did however try ant eggs and, yes, it was disgusting. I’m amazed that they actually eat them like it’s a bowl of Frosted Flakes. It was so gushy and tasted like very warm milk…and an ant. (Haha) No thank you. I also ate some flowers they cooked. I watched one person on their fifth flower, so in my head I’m thinking it can’t be all that bad. I literally was coughing trying to get it down. It was so bitter!

Thanking God for food has yet another meaning to me now. When I thank Him for food, I literally am grateful and feel so privileged to eat food that’s actually delicious…like pizza. I don’t get it a lot here in Bangkok but when I do, I feel like I could be in Heaven.