Village Meals by Addie

Breaking down the food in the village by meal, we'll start with breakfast. Upon waking up, our host families are already preparing a family style feast with a base of rice and various dishes dependent on the day. Mine often include eggs, stir-fried vegetables, and a form of soup or curry (chicken or vegetable based). Additionally, these pink mochi-like textured sausages are a common asset to most meals and dishes.

To bring us to the worksite, our host families prepare our lunches in stackable tins to create the perfect lunchbox. When it's time to eat, we all hurry to take a peek at what unique dishes are hiding inside the tins. Everything from Fried chicken to curry to even things like French toast have been uncovered in these - it's truly like opening a surprise present every single day. On the side, we also often find fruits and special treats. The bananas and mangoes have been some of, if not the best tasting, ever. If only we could take some home with us! After lunch and wrapping up the service for the day, we head home and are often greeted with even more fruit. Some but not all of the possibilities include mango, banana, pineapple, durian, dragon fruit, papaya, lychee, and apples, all of which are fresh, sweet, and delicious.

Lastly, dinner. Similar to breakfast, we sit on the floor with our host families and indulge in various dishes, different than in the morning but with similar bases and concepts. There is always an abundance of everything and you always can count on your host parents feeding you more and more until you physically cannot consume another bite. Note on a schedule, the kids from the village will often have Thai snacks that they are eager to share - seaweed flavored shrimp chips, crackers of sorts, and sweet rolls with different forms of fillings. Tea is also a staple in the Lahu diet. They make their own that has a slight smokey taste, making it different than other traditional kinds. All in all, there's one main takeaway: We. Eat. Good.

- Addie



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