Before I arrived in here, I had a few pre-existing expectations about Africa. One was that bugs are a common dish; you know, crickets, worms, and maggots. So far, I haven’t enjoyed this delicacy as much as I thought I would, but I definitely had some encounters, and unfortunately, they weren’t as culturally enlightening as I had hoped. Once, I decided to roast a giant grass hopper and popped it in my mouth. It was ok. My next experience wasn’t quite as ok; I wasn’t expecting it.
At Alpha Hotel, there are these trees that bear a fruit I have never seen before. They are about the size of tangerines and are pinkish purple. I decided I had to try one, but the staff said I had to let it sit a few days before it was ripe. So here was my first mistake. I sealed it in a bag for five days, so when I finally tried it, it was starting to ferment. A few of us took a sample bite of it, Zane, Craig, and I. As I was finishing it off, I took a closer look at the curious fruit. Yep, it was occupied. Occupied with maggots. I threw that thing and got to the sink in less than two seconds. From the bathroom, I explained my discovery, and in a moment, Zane was in the bathroom as well. It was not fun.
So be careful what you are looking for because you might just find it where you don’t expect. Especially with maggots!
In Christ,
Zach Brown
