Wednesday, June 23, 2010

FISHBONES ARE MORE DANGEROUS THAN PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT



WARNING: FISHBONES CAN BE DANGEROUS

fishbones stuck in your throat is a common fear of PC volunteers here in senegal b/c that's really all we eat. we are treated like babies and so we rely on family members to pick the bones out for us. i've become a very trusting fish eater. besides, my biggest fears were pooping my pants and having something stolen from me. i never gave much thought to the danger of fishbones.

well today, that has changed. they are evil little throat daggers than can cause hours or maybe even days of pain. this afternoon, i awoke from my afternoon repose feeling more than peckish. fortunately, the fataya lady had just rounded the corner and i had CFA to spend. i bought four fatayas. two to share and two for myself. fatayas are delicious fried snacks, dough with seasoned ground meat or fish stuffed in the middle. sometimes they are crisp like fried wontons and sometimes they are doughy like indian fry bread.

i was eating one with out looking as i was rushing to get ready to go to the market and, in my haste, i swallowed a fish bone. well it remains lodged there till this moment. i told my family at about 10 PM and they immediately told me to go to my father.

i went to him and he massaged my throat while whispering a prayer or incantation and made spitting noises and breathed on my throat. then i drank water. then i tried to examine with a toothbrush. then i threw up all over my floor. then i threw up outside. then my dad massaged my throat again. then i really couldn't stop throwing up. then i tried gargling. then i brushed my teeth. then i threw up some more (macaroni for dinner). finally i stopped throwing up and i asked my mom how to clean it up and she cleaned it up for me. then i decided i had had enough torture and went in my room to blog about it. i smell like bulimia.

now a storm is coming in. it sounds like someone is rolling around on my roof. today i went in my backyard and there was a goat tied up next to the wall. i went back to the front and said "hey did you know there is a goat in the backyard?" my sister said, "yes, there is going to be a wedding on friday. your brother is getting married. you are going the market today to get fabric for a new outfit. tomorrow you're going to the thiam's house to get henna."

no body tells me anything around here!!!! a wedding at my house and i'm the last to know. of course! today there was an important meeting and no one called, texted, or came to visit my house to tell me about it. the only reason i knew was b/c the daughter of one of the people that is supposed to help me came to fetch me in the market and took me to the meeting where her mom (the person who was supposed to give me the details) asked me if i forgot about the meeting! i don't think i can blame this one on language issues, either.

so much stuff happens in one day. i will let you guys know if i ever go that fishbone out. doesn't that fataya up there look delicious?

8 comments:

  1. i hope you don't have to hold the goat while it is being killed, halal style.

    anyway, good luck on the fish bone.

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  2. no, only the men do that. i have a video of it, the last time i saw it happening at a baptism. rain is dripping on me right now. this rain storm is crazy.

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  3. thank buddha. oh wait, i'm mixing deities.

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  4. Geez, I'm making fish for dinner tonight but now that I envision you vomiting everywhere post-fish consumption I'm not sure if I'm hungry... :-\

    You better post a picture of the outfit you make for the wedding. What's the goat for?

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  5. I imagined the goat flying in the air like in a tornado, but sadly attached to the house by a rope.

    Also, I saw a pimple on my leg today and it made me think of you!

    Also, you have pooped your pants. And someone stole your MacBook! You survived those things, I'm sure you'll pull through the fishbone.

    I went to the gym today and I fell off the curb on my way out to my car.

    Have fun at the wedding, it sounds like you should bribe someone to keep you in the loop. I don't suggest bribing with fish, however. Maybe if you sing like... opera? Doesn't that relax your throat? I hope your fishbone situation resolves itself quickly!

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  6. i don't appreciate the incestuous massaging going on there! anyway, hook it up with one of those fataya things, looks like an empanada :)

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  7. selina- the goat was to eat. haha. they are going to kill it tomorrow and we will feast. meat is only for really special occasions.

    theresa- it was great to skype with you yesterday. sorry about the bad internet. thank allah the fish bone was out when i woke up. i think it was the massage and throwing up that helped. i caused such a scene that everyone in my family kept asking how i was this morning.

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  8. OH MY GOD is the bone out yet? how was the wedding?????

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