Voice of an African Nation

BY JENIECE TORANZO, MESA, ARIZONA, USA-Saturday Jabbes threw a party. All of his friends from Zambia came, but man o' man did they come late! I didn't realize that they used Zambian time here in America. It was funny because we were told it started at 6pm and in Zambia it really means 9pm. So by the time everyone got there, we were all starving and ready to dig in and try their food.

I did try everything but the big fish. I really liked their rice and chicken. Very good! I tried to eat with my hands, how the Zambians do, which that was kind of different but it was fun. Towards the end of dinner, they brought out what looked like turnovers. That was very good, too.

My least favorite thing, I must say, was the little fish. I didn't want to try it at all to begin with, but Cyndi told me to at least try one. It was very hard to look at this little creature looking at me and I'm thinking "I have to eat you as you look at me." Poor fish. He never saw it coming. It's like I was eating a friend of Nemo. So I stuffed him in my taco because I just didn't have the heart to look at him starring at me as I ate him. I took one bite of my taco and the stuffing started to fall out. I looked down and there was my poor little friend staring right up at me. Only it was half of him by now. I only ate his butt. Yuck. In order for me to finish him up, as I said I would to Cyndi, I quickly pushed him back in with everything else and just closed my eyes and hoped that I couldn't feel or taste him. What a way to go.

Well I survived, but I'll tell you one thing, I would not survive on FEAR FACTOR! Money is not so important to me that I would put myself through that. Other than that, everything else was very good!

As we mingled with Jabbes' friends, I got to know one guy. I think his name is Daniel Phirri. Hope I spelled that right. He was such a nice guy and fun to talk to. He tried to teach me and Jacob to dance like the people in Zambia do. He is a very good dancer. I felt like such a dork because I wasn't used to how they dance and I didn't know how. They really know how to dance. It seems like it's in their blood and it comes natural to them. Or maybe it's because singing and dancing are a part of their daily life. Although I was embarrassed to dance in front of people I didn't know, it was still fun and I eventually got over it. They have a lot of energy! I was so tired by 11pm. I just hope I can keep up with them in Zambia. I don't want to be known as a party pooper. I don't think that would look good since we are representing America.