Brain, Take Two
December 14, 2010
My host mom seemed to take quite a bit of delight in preparing some goat brains as the afternoon snack of the day. She laughed and commented on how I’m probably not used to eating brains, and would I even barf? No, I told her, I could keep it down. I did, however, play with Anwar from outside of the kitchen while he was inside, playing a conveniently long-distance game of peek-a-boo around the door frame. The smell wafting strongly from the frying pan wasn’t all that pleasant.
I don’t hate brain, from the (now) two times that I’ve had it, but I don’t like it either.
This round was done simply in a frying pan with olive oil, cumin, salt, pepper, perhaps turmeric, and some flavor (probably sheep) bouillon. I saw the brain fresh out of the fridge as it landed in the pan, and then I saw it again after it was cooked and Naima had chopped it to little pieces with a spatula. It looked a lot like eggs.
I told myself that I could eat some, I’ve had it before, what’s the harm? I proceeded to count to three bites. Three is a respectable number. Barakayyi, enough for me. I switched to dipping my bread in the more mundane olive oil (which turned out to be from Naima’s family out in Ait Brayim, an area just below our hills). Somehow, though, I found myself eating a fourth piece. And then I said really, enough. Best to leave it for someone who loves it.
Other highlights of today’s visit with the host family included playing with the kids. Not very Marj-like, I know, but I have some fun. It’s good practice for potential nephews or cousins or children of friends. I’m not good with kids, but I’m learning.
Today I had fun lifting Anwar up into the air by his hands. What a workout! I should do that more often. I also helped draw water from the cistern and throw some junk over a tall wall. Once Hussein came home from school, I ended up helping him with his Arabic homework. I think it’s really cool that Naima has me work with him on it. She can’t really read, and I don’t really know what all the words mean, but since I can sound them out I’m sort of helpful. Hussein took his sweet time and wreaked a bit of havoc. I didn’t appreciate that so much, but I think I learned a little about how to try to coax punkass little boys who have too much energy into doing some work. Poor kids, focus is not one of their strongpoints, especially after sitting for hours at school.
