There Just Has to be a C....

Background: I'm really hungry. I didn't have supper last night either and it looks like I will be having a late lunch, as my usual lunch companion is off work with the flu.

Dear Life: Lets get on with it.


While we're on the subject of food, you might find this quite interesting. The food here is much better than the food in England. Its not about it being 'fresh' and 'natural' or something, its just better. Tastes really good.

Food is also given a very high status, the entire culture of 'Coffee on the go' or a sandwich on the tube (not that there are tubes, just saying if there were) would be so bizarre here. Food is respected, and sat down for, and prepared meticulously. As is in England it is divided into 3 stages - breakfast, lunch and dinner, however early in the morning, people have tea with something, (bread or biscuits). Then between 11:30-12:30 its lunch... also known as 'Fatoor'. This is probably the most fussed about phenomanon ever.

At work its the most important thing - never mind your clients! Fatooooooooooooooooooooor tiiiiiiiiiiiiiime everyone, break. (there are no set breaks at work, just go with the flow! but that will be discussed in an entirely different post)

And dinner is just, the same, dinner.

Not eating is a matter of concern, and people think there is something wrong with you... You see, in Sudan, being thin = being ugly. Not eating = feeling hungry or it means your ill/sick.  so everyone worries and makes a massive fuss, which makes you eat even when your not hungry, just to avoid the fuss! Opening the fridge and grabbing a snack is simply not possible because food here comes in meals, so you have to sit, and give food respect. Its quite nice because it means you always eat with everyone, and you're never in a rush to eat and go...makes for a very chilled out, relaxed pace of life.

With reference to the title of this post, - yes. There always has to be a C... anyone who has lived in Sudan will tell you, no matter where you go out, no matter how fancy the place, if you eat outside, you will be accompanied. You sit around the table, with all of your friends/family/co-workers, and just as your about to start eating something grabs your leg from under then table...

'Meeeaaaaaaaaaaaooow'

There will always be a cat. I am yet to experience an exception. This was me yesterday having coffee with a client at Barista and yes, my companion... It's not accurate to say you get used to it, but like most things in Sudan, you just get over it