My work is associated with east African countries, mostly Kenya and Ethiopia.
I just got back from Ethiopia with the weirdest encounter of my life, which changed my previous sympathy for the country.
It all started with me and my co-worker as we visited the Lake Tana that’s the origin of Nile River in Ethiopia. There on the lake were these poor Ethiopians trying to fish while we sow one man dropping bunch of fishes, crabs, shrimps and lobsters, etc..back to the lake, I asked him why he was doing that, he looked at me with surprise and asked with broken English what else he could do with them. I told him why couldn’t he eat them or give them to other people, he shouted out, how people could eat such things and left immediately. We were both so surprise, imagine how shrimps and crabs can’t be eaten and the weird part is, they are Ethiopians always suffering with hunger and famine.
After we encounter this we tried to show to the local people how to eat, shrimps, crabs and different kinds of fish as they only eat one type of fish , we cooked and tried to give them to taste, some of them were actually vomiting for just watching us eat and none of them dare to try, my friend was laughing at their stupidity but I was actually offended and the worst part is not just sea foods that they don’t know how to eat, we found out there are many types vegetables that they don’t know how to eat specially mushroom they call it “ umbrella of hyena” and children play with is everywhere on the street , but no one use them as food, my general encounter is that poverty is both mental and physical in Ethiopia and they are the poorest and the most proudest people I have ever seen.
Can you imagine, they think eating pork is disobeying God?
Anyway Kenya is relatively better, actually they are growing economically better than Ethiopians, and they know mushrooms, sea foods and pork are for food. My friend and I now working on project to teach Ethiopians what to eat hopefully we can get somewhere, anyone who read this can give me idea to include in the project
2007-02-04 00:54:19 · 6 answers · asked by Anonymous in Family & Relationships ➔ Singles & Dating
These are strange behaviors only when viewed from your own strong cultural bias. Why wouldn't they trust their holy writings that say pork and shellfish are not fit? In the western world there are many double-talking theologians who twist up what the scriptures plainly say.
2007-02-04 01:08:07 · answer #1 · answered by Steve71 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
It is interesting to note how people of different cultures react when they see others behave not the way they do. And am sure it is the same for all of us who are there for a reason. One man's meat is another man's poison as the proverb says. I believe, muslims and jews do not take pork as well so it could be a religious thing. You could be in a muslim territory or something. If they choose not to eat even thouugh you have taught them, then there is nothing that you can do. If they choose to starve then that is their business and you should not be upset about it. You can bring a horse to the water to let it drink but you cannot force it to drink if it does not want to drink. Perhaps allowing them to live their lives the way they want to would be the best thing. You can't change them if they desire to be the way they want to be....you can only do so much and the rest is up to them so I would n't worry about it if I were you....They can take care of themselves....By changing their lifestyle, you could make things worse rather than better...
2007-02-04 01:10:57 · answer #2 · answered by singirl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's great that you have taken the time to write this, and I hope it reaches many people.
It is very poignant to think that there is food available but for cultural reasons the people will not use it as food.
You sound like a caring person and I hope you will have success in helping the people you work with.
2007-02-04 00:59:53 · answer #3 · answered by Suzita 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Some people live in the old laws of the Bible Jesus said its not what goes into your mouth that counts its what comes out of your mouth.If you live by the law you die by the law.Jesus said all foods are good that are eatable
2007-02-04 01:02:32 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
You must have visited a very poor village is all i can say.
2007-02-04 00:59:52 · answer #5 · answered by julia1975 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
to each country its own beliefs, you have to respect that!!
2007-02-04 00:58:13 · answer #6 · answered by gone 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋