In Yemen (or as I like to say it YA Man) since being here, I have found many things very interesting. I have found that Quat is not the cause of much of the suffering but it is the escape of that suffering. It is regarded as a drug and at some point in time you will find yourself in the debate about caffeine being a drug and some people being unable to live without having a cup of coffee everyday. So do we qualify something as a drug if it causes even the slightest addiction? We could go so far as to say sugar can be addicting, and it does have long lasting affects on your body–tooth decay for one and some forms of diabites. Maybe we should classify them as hard drugs or soft drugs so we can feel better about our own drug. One could say, “At least I don’t eat caramel. I just eat mashmallows because, you know caramel. Now that is a hard drug; but marshmallows–well they’re a soft one. Come on! Wouldn’t you much rather get hit by a marshmallow than a caramel candy?” That’s what we tend to do. Everyone draws a line and if their line is past yours, they try to get you to come to their line. And if the line is past yours you tend to be judgemental of that farther line. So where is your line? Does it matter? You are going to be wrong anyway, because your line is not where mine is.
One of the main differences between Yemen and Jordan is that life is easier in Jordan but simpler in Yemen. If you want something to eat for breakfast or dinner it may be the same thing: the main dish, refried beans. I mean good refried beans. If they would only use pig fat they would taste even better. I wonder how that marketing ploy would work. There are other simple things like bread and dates beat together with your hand and a little bit of honey. This is also done with bannanas. They call it fata. In Jordan they do the same thing but with bread and hummus. Yemen also has a hot sause. One perk here is spice to the food unlike Jordan. Yemeni food is much like Mexican food. They love their peppers. The bread is not tortillas but a giant tortilla cooked on the side of an oven. You just tear a piece off and dip it in beans, eggs or hot sause. Lunch is the big meal here is where you eat meat and or chicken, salad, noodles, potatoes and rice. So once again, having only beans for just about 2 meals a day I have lost some weight. Not as much as during my Kenya time, so far no worms or parasites.
You would think coffee would be good here. It is one of their main exports. Nope it tastes horrible.
As one coming from Texas to Yemen, in general life is easier, more westernized with more conveniences. Yemen is simpler with fewer choices.