Food

Discovered strange and wonderful foods today. My throat is still sore from dinner but it was worth it.

Earlier in the day my aunt had me peel and chop long stems called 'kuchu' and she was surprised to hear that I was unfamiliar with them. Turns out I shouldn't have rinsed them before chopping- once wet they begin stinging like the devil. They may look like leeks but they have the heart of thorny nettles. The aunt advised me to hold my hand over the fire to cool the stinging pain.

Naturally I was a little apprehensive about eating the blighters, but they had melted down into an unrecognisable brown mush and after a tentative pinchful proved to be amazingly tasty I piled my plate high with the stuff.

Later on as my gobbling slowed down I began to noticed that my tongue and the roof of my mouth were itching like I'd sucked too many pear drops or eaten 6 kiwis. I asked my aunt, worried again, but she assured me that's it's fine if it hurts a little- you should only stop if it begins stinging so bad you think you might not be able to eat again. Man that scared me plenty, but young Fatima helped me out with the rest of my meal so I'm fairly sure I'll be in a fit state for breakfast.

Bengalis, man- this happy frog on slow boil attitude is way too common. Like teaching us how to crush our fingers into tiny bangles- just stop short of breaking your bones ok?

The uncle also bought home some wondrous Malaysian lychee-like fruit that looked like a small wild-haired tropical monster. The aunt also says she'll cook waterlilies or 'shapla' at some point.