Here in Liberia, more than I've ever
experienced, people talk about America. The linked history these two
nations share creates an intriguing dynamic. Many people go to
America to study, to buy a house, to find a job, to visit family, or simply to see
the place. And this is normal.
Now, across the globe everyone eats right? Food brings
us all together across cultural, socioeconomic, and geographical
barriers.
I often get the question from people curious about America and wanting to travel there, 'what do
Americans eat?' In Liberia, people eat rice every single day. It is
their staple food, and they cannot go without it. (They also ask me if there is rice in America.)
Sometimes I answer by going into descriptive detail when explaining that Americans don't necessarily have a “staple” or traditional food and that our food culture tends to reflect our varied melting pot society and geographically diverse environments.
The ones who have visited the States and
have tasted our food often argue one thing about our food
though: 'it's bland and boring.'
At first, I was stunned by this blanket
statement. How could people say that when we add so many different
spices and herbs, often cook utilizing so many food groups, create
magnificent and unique flavor combinations, and have such advanced
culinary arts? Meanwhile, Liberians just cook the same five (ish) dishes throughout the week using bouillion cubes, red palm oil, and spicy
peppers to flavor everything.
However, the more time that passes as I'm here
in Liberia, I'm beginning to understand what these people are actually trying to say.
When I'm hungry, I have begun to develop the same cravings as my neighbors for a big bowl of rice topped with a spicy soup that makes me sweat. And when I cook for myself, I put cayenne pepper, hot sauce, or freshly roasted peppers in everything. I don't think I even know how to cook anymore without adding some layer of heat.
So one day it all clicked in my head. It's not that
our food in America is bland per say, it's that Liberians are SO accustomed
to heat in their food that, without it, food lacks the critical sensation of a residual burning on the tongue after you swallow an
overflowing spoonful of spicy rice that constitutes the meaning of the word "delicious" to them. Comparatively, I can understand now how they imagine American food, with its subtle flavors and focus on the taste of the ingredients to be somewhat unexciting. Being able to handle 'pepe' is almost like a source of pride and always ends up being discussed at mealtime. I mean, what else would you talk about when everyone is sweating and chugging glasses of water over a shared bowl of rice?