As
you know, I taught all four sections of tenth grade last year. Near the end of the year, my students started
asking me if I was going to come for their Country Cook. It took me a few minutes until I deciphered
their Liberian English as “Country Cook,” but once I figured that out, I realized
I had no idea what they were really talking about! :)
Every
year, schools in Pleebo do this (and maybe around Liberia, though I’m not sure…)
until students reach the tenth grade. As
an elementary student, it is much less involved, but as a tenth grader, it is a
day’s event! The week after final exams,
students will get together on campus and cook a meal together to celebrate
another successful school year. They
each pay an agreed upon amount of money and a group of students from the class
will head to the market to buy all the required goods.
Every
section of tenth grade did things differently, but the average price being paid
by my students was around 300 LD (or around $4 US). On Monday, I showed up, not sure what to
expect, and I was so surprised by the results.
There were ten or so girls from the 10A class (the only class doing
country cook that day) cooking up a storm.
They had purchased 35 kilograms of rice and 12 kilograms of beans to
cook for their Country Cook. Arriving on
campus at 7 am, they prepared their wood fire and got to work cooking all that
food for about 60 people.
Country
Cook is special because it typically involves meals that people don’t cook
often at home (or meals prepared in a special way – i.e., plenty of meat,
special beans, or more expensive rice (less starchy)). 10A had purchased a goat and slaughtered and
parboiled it on Sunday to be put in their beans on Monday. Upon arriving, Maria and Caroline laughed and
set me right to work, preparing seasoning, washing peppers, and cleaning
rice. It was so much fun and such a
great, relaxed environment to spend time in with my students.
As
things were wrapping up, they looked to me and said “Miss Moore, where are your
containers?” I was confused –
containers? What does that mean? I said as much, and they explained to me that
I needed to bring containers to carry my food home in. I hadn’t expected to be fed, and I explained myself
to them. They refused no as an answer, and they sent me on my way to get
containers from my house. When I returned,
they made sure to dish up my soup and rice first, giving me plenty of rice and
so much meat. I tried to stop them,
explaining I hadn’t paid for the meal and that the meat was plenty-oh, but they
would hear none of it. (I think they
were so shocked I had wanted to help with this meal, and they wanted to make
sure I enjoyed as much of it as I could.)
The
next day, I arrived on campus and walked between 10B, 10C, and 10D as they were
preparing their meals. Beans were the common
denominator for all my classes, it seemed, and I asked them why. “Beans are sweet, Miss Moore!” “Beans are
plenty and not too dear (expensive) – we can eat plenty on this day!” The responses made me laugh, and I couldn’t
help but agree with them. Beans are
quite tasty, and these students can cook – I’m telling you!
10D
had bought a goat, as well, but 10C and 10B made due with plenty of chicken and
fish, which was equally as tasty. At the
end of the day, it was a competition to see who would get to send Miss Moore
food to take home – I ended up choosing to carry home some beans and rice from
10D, as I had taste-tested from both 10B and 10C throughout the day.
Walking
home both days, everyone knew that I was carrying my Country Cook home, and as
is custom, I was asked if they could join me in eating. I happily obliged, but no one took me up on
the offer. Instead, I carried my food
straight to Regina’s house and shared my bounty with Eliyassa, Patricia, and
all of the children in the yard. Had I
not had neighbors to share with, I think I would have been eating those beans
for the rest of the week!
Country
Cook occurred when Sarah was travelling to Monrovia to hand in grant
applications and things for our library, and I’m sad she missed out. I am grateful it occurred during that week,
as well, though. It gave me something to
do and someplace to be for two days out of what could have been a very lonely
week. And the welcoming spirit and fun
atmosphere that my students gave me for those two days is something I will
remember for the rest of my life.
They
not only taught me a little something about cooking Liberian dishes, but they
also taught me what it is to be selfless and generous when you may not have
much. They welcomed this confused white
lady in as their teacher and as their friend, and I am so incredibly grateful
for the experience we shared together.
 |
| Dishing out beans for everyone to carry home |
 |
| Maria showing off 35 kilos of rice - cooked! |
 |
| Fires are ready to cook |
 |
| Country beans have to be beat after they are boiled |
 |
| Teta can cook-oh! |
 |
| Ferretha bluffing with the chicken |
 |
| The ladies of 10A - hardest working women I know |
 |
| Patrick getting ready to eat his papaya; Andrew preparing the pigs feet for the soup |
