One of the things I enjoy about living in Kampala is that I
am always seeing and learning new places in the city. Last Sunday after church I
went with friends down to the landing on Lake Victoria. Just a few blocks from where
I worship every Sunday, I found a whole new (to me) world. There by the lake is a bustling fish market
where hundreds of people were trading. They buy fresh fish right off the boats from a guy in white gum boots, standing on a table, auctioning in Luganda (the
local language).
We sat down in plastic chairs at a little table just across
from this scene and asked the lady who came to us, “What do you have?” This is
how you order food at a restaurant in Uganda. They may have a menu, but that
doesn't mean they have the food that is listed. You always ask this
question first.
I had never been to this place before because we have a guy who brings fish around to us every week. I heard it was a bit overwhelming to go down there so I avoided it. In the rush of living, working, and doing, I missed this experience all together until an adventurous friend invited me to come eat with her (thanks Angela!).
So I encourage you all to get out there and go see where your fish comes from! It may be overwhelming, but I imagine it will be well worth the experience.
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| Ugandans wearing world famous Varnamtown Reeboks. |
She proudly replied, “Fish.”
“What size?” was our next
question.
“Medium, big, and extra,” she
answered.
Since I had no idea what “Big” really meant, I looked at the man at
the next table with a 12” long fish (head and tail included, of course) on the
plastic platter in front of him. “What size is that one?” I motioned to him.
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| Lunch! |
“For 12,000 (Ugandan shillings),” which is about $4.65. “Ok, I’ll
have that one, with chips and salads.” For all you Americans, that’s French
fries. In Uganda, salads usually means cut up vegetables, in this case,
tomatoes, onions, and shredded cabbage piled up on top of the fish. We all ordered up and just a few short
minutes later, had huge platters of hot fried fish in front of us.
Delicious. I may not be in Calabash, but was GOOD!
I had never been to this place before because we have a guy who brings fish around to us every week. I heard it was a bit overwhelming to go down there so I avoided it. In the rush of living, working, and doing, I missed this experience all together until an adventurous friend invited me to come eat with her (thanks Angela!).
So I encourage you all to get out there and go see where your fish comes from! It may be overwhelming, but I imagine it will be well worth the experience.
