Bajias & Pães

We have discovered the most delicious thing on the face of the planet: bajias. Bear with me on the description. Put simply, they are fried bean patties. Not the most delightful sounding thing ever. In reality, they are more accurately a fried oil explosion. Also probably not the most tasteful description. But regardless of how I describe them, they are delicious. When combined with a freshly baked, personal sized loaf of bread, there are few things in the world that could make life better. And the best part? This entire snack costs 10 metacais (approximately 35 cents).

But on a bit more serious note, the pão (bread) is simply amazing here. I usually start my day with a loaf of bread, a fruit and a freshly brewed cup of tea (chá). The loaves of bread are about the size of a bread for a good cup of soup, and it really is some of the best bread I’ve had. Nothing fancy, but very well done. My pai thinks I should open a padaria (bakery) when I get to my site because I like the bread here so much.

It’s strange to think that I have been in Namaacha, for nearly a month already. This place definitely falls into a paradox when it comes to the passage of time. On the one hand, it seems like I’ve been here for ages. I have had so much to absorb, so much to learn, and so much to screw up that I feel like I’ve known my fellow trainees for so much longer than a month. We have had so many shared experiences that my brain is telling me I must have known them for years. And then I look at the other side of the coin. I still have so much left to learn, in both teaching and language that it’s quite terrifying to think that 40% of training is already over. Time is moving so quickly. I have midterms next week (the scariest being the language proficiency interview…), then am off to visit a volunteer at their site, then I have to teach three model lessons (in Portuguese), and then have another round of tests, and then I’m on my own. It’s seems I’ve just arrived here, that I’m still just a child in Mozambican life.