the food...

while the nation's poverty is obvious, malnutrition is not an obvious issue - at least in arusha.

their food is heavy, oily and at least 1 food item is fried per meal.

fruit is fresh - pineapple, mango, bananas and watermelon.
their vegetables are usually smothered. on the dalla dallas they smell of past due - but when mixed with the some sort of tomato based sauce their expiration date is hard to identify.

rice and ugali, (a corn starch based rice-like food) are their staples, served with most meals. that for french fries. although for the mnzugus (white people) are served pasta as well (thank goodness).

desert is not usually included in any meal. although the one time it was served, it was fried bananas.

there is barely any wheat bread - white everything. not finishing is not an option and not asking for seconds is rude.

everyone loves full whole cream (where you actually have to skim your own glass). they serve it with warm sugar and call it tea.... i finally started turning this down today as my stomach just can't handle any more.

there's a few popular beer options (it's "kili" time is a slogan plastered everywhere), but most tanzanians don't drink that much.

while we have been continually served seemingly delicious meals, the food just sits like a rock and immediately makes your stomach unhappy.
regardless of why this is (water, preparation, oil, etc) - after starting antibiotics, i'm pretty much sticking to just pb&j from now on. yikes... this is going to be a long 3 more weeks!