GRIP, Internships Abroad Marvelous Markets

Gambia Goat Dairy

Food plays a major role in my life. I wake up thinking about breakfast, dream about lunch as soon as I have cleaned my oatmeal dishes, plan dinner while eating lunch and go to bed excited for breakfast in 8 hours. However, in the US I wouldn't say that I have to think about how I store my food or if I can purchase refrigerated goods. Similar to a majority of the people in the US, I have access to a refrigerator and freezer to store and preserve my food.

Here in the Gambia, this is not the case. While we are lucky enough to have a tiny refrigerator in our apartment, it doesn't get too cold and the power here is sporadic. Thus, we are cautious about buying food that must be refrigerated or making too much food for any meals. This choice has made everyday grocery shopping a reality. I happen to love grocery shopping and exploring the markets of other countries. I find it quite fascinating to see the different types of ingredients that other cultures use as staples in their meals.

Grocery stores are often an overlooked way to learn about the country that you inhabit. Sometimes you can be in a country that feels nothing like your home yet walk into a grocery store and see an American staple on the shelves. I enjoy going to the market every day, gazing at the various types of fruit and vegetables and bargaining for my bananas and mangoes. It gives me a chance to engage with local citizens and learn more about the new culture that I am living in. I love walking up and down the aisles of the much smaller grocery stores and seeing the biscuits that I eat with tea and seeing food that I have never heard of before.

Each store is a new adventure for me, like opening a present and having no idea what to expect. While I admit it can be a little annoying sometimes to have to get dressed and walk outside right after I get up in the morning to get bread, it makes me appreciate the delicious meal even more and establish a relationship with the local tapalapa (the baguette like bread eaten daily in The Gambia) lady. Refrigeration is definitely something I take for granted in America, but I think if I had it here, I would be missing out on so many interesting and eye-opening experiences