Malawi vs Moldova: McDonalds

Malawi

This is the closest thing to a McDonald's in Malawi. This vendor in Cape Maclear near Lake Malawi had this clever sign advertising his "chips" (in the British sense, which is french fries to us Yankees). Colii and I didn't try them, but I haven't tasted anything in Malawi that comes close to real french fries.

Oddly enough, we do have one American fast food chain in Malawi though. KFC is located in Blantyre. They offer chicken and chips, and for a little local cultural flare-- fried nsima balls. I might make Colii try them with me if she comes back to Malawi next year.


Moldova

Moldova has the real McDonald's. I had Colii take my picture here, but we didn't actually eat here.

Food or Pet?

Here at homestay, there are quite a few creatures sharing my living space (the outside part). Try to guess which of these animals are considered food and which are a pet here in my rural village in Malawi.

A) Mbudzi (goat)

B) Chivala (grasshopper)

C) Mkhuku (chicken)

D) Mbira (Rat)

The answer is, they are all for food, sort of. My family eats goat, chicken, beef (not pictured), mice (not pictured) and grasshoppers. However, they haven't eaten these goats or chickens during my stay. The goats are kept in an elevated pen near the house, and the chickens sleep in a coop adjacent to the kitchen. My host brothers are raising the rats in an underground pen to sell, and they said some people eat them, but my family does not.

And the grasshopper? My host brother said he was planning to cook them and eat them today. Yum.