In Zambia, I am without television, electricity, or even running water at my hut. Although it can be tough without all of these amenities, I have immersed myself in a new culture and have learned a few lessons on home economics along the way. Washing laundry by hand, waxing my floors, and finding home-made remedies for bug removal are within my knowledge now. Even more, I've finally learned how to cook.
Cooking on a brazier isn't easy. It requires starting a fire, lighting charcoal, and not being able to control the temperature. Furthermore, not having regular access to a grocery store requires me to get creative with the fruits, vegetables, and easily stored products like flour, rice, soya, and beans. In America, I would find myself, like many other Americans, eating out once or twice a day, especially if I'm traveling from meetings and communities outside of Reno. My cooking was easily simplified to boiling water and making salads and sandwiches. Even my brown rice was pre-cooked and sold frozen from Trader Joes. Before I came to Zambia, I knew I was in for a challenge.
After living in a hut in Zambia for nearly a year, I can proudly say that my cooking abilities have greatly improved. When cooking here you cannot even ask if that's made "by scratch," because everything is. I've made tomato sauce, pancakes, fried rice, different pastas, tortillas, curries, and even carrot cake from a brazier. By experimenting, it's easy to learn the distinct flavors from different spices. You come to rely on spices and whatever vegetables are available from farmers at the market, and markets aren't like the farmer's markets at home are. Everything is organic and nothing is commercialized. You can buy 5 tomatoes for less than a dollar and a handful of greens for fifty cents. I've even started my own garden. I've planted herbs, sweet corn, and squash.
It's so easy to cook on your own and it makes me wonder why I didn't do it more often. Maybe it was because I was busy or maybe it was because I was lazy. Regardless, I now know how easy it is to cook and cannot wait to make friends and family delicious meals in the states and even grow my own garden. Who knows, I may even be the next Emeril!
Gracie Geremia is a Peace Corps volunteer and past Lovelock Relay for Life community coordinator for the American Cancer Society. She is now on a 27-month assignment in Zambia, Africa. The Lovelock Correctional Center sends occasional care packages to Geremia. To be part of this package program contact Lt. Olivas at 273-4279 or donations can be dropped at the LCC gatehouse. The Lovelock Review-Miner will publish periodic updates of her adventures in Africa.
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