LEX

demasiado comida!

each day that i go to Pancho Mateo i try to arrive at least an hour early so i can chat with a muchacho to get some conversation practice. his little peluqueria is in plane view of his grandmother, Dona Mercedes (but the people call her Vilila), so she can keep an eye on him.

when i arrived this past Thursday, i didn't see him around. in fact, i didn't see very many of the usual people around, except a few men who seem to have nothing to do - ever. one of the men offered me his chair and then disappeared into the house across the road. a few minutes later he came back and told me to come with him to see the dona. so i followed. vilila was in her house with her family, cooking the daily bandera. the dona gave me a bowl of some type of fruit. i still don't know what this particular fruit is called, but it looks a lot like a big nut. it is cooked so that it is softened, and then peeled and eaten. it's not bad, but definitely not my favorite dominican specialty. so i ate a few and then continued with my cafecito. however, andrea, vilila's daughter, then began peeling them for me and giving them to me to eat. when i told her i had had enough, she pointed at me, motioned for me to eat (she's mute, and therefore could not tell me in words), and then put her arms out to her side as if to say, "you need to fatten up!" aye! i bet i ate 50 of those things - and no, i am not exaggerating.

at about 10 minutes to eleven i told vilila that i needed to leave to prepare for my class that was to begin at 11:00. "oh, but you must eat first!" but didn't i just eat 50 of those whatchamacalits? she proceeded to bring me the bandera - a plate of rice and a side of beans and meat. i couldn't refuse, so i sad down to eat - quickly. when i was just about finished, and way beyond full, she came in plopped another huge spoonful of rice on my plate. she then proceeded to bring the avocate she had forgotten. so i continued to eat, but seeing as my stomach was already about to explode, i couldn't do this as quickly. and once again, before i finished with this plate, more food came in the form of a banana. i literally thought i would burst if i attempted to this, as well, so after i said goodbye i tried to slip out without it. but andrea wouldn't have it. she reminded me that it was still sitting on the table and made me take it with me.

as i was waiting for camille to arrive after my first class, fernando appeared, and then his sister brought over a glass of orange juice, sweetened with sugar, just like the dominicans like it. this, of course, was also given to me to put into my aching belly.

i consumed all of this food on thursday morning. it's friday evening and i'm still full.

posted by Alexia & Jeffrey @ 10:06 PM