When I first heard that Josh, Sarah and I were staying after school to go to Doris' house to slaughter a chicken for dinner, I didn't actually think that we were going to slaughter the chicken. Well, I was wrong. Click here for the first phase of slaughtering a chicken.
The second phase of slaughtering a chicken is to pluck it's feathers, pictured here:
Phase 4: EWWWWWW, don't eat these parts. Gross!
Phase 5: Cut the chicken into pieces at the joints.
These are all of the usable parts. Yes, even the eggs. In Acholi culture, the eggs are given to the husband as a sign of respect. Doris and Okata are both teachers at SSBS, but are not married to each other (although they are both married and live away from their spouses). However, Okata got to eat the eggs.
Phase 6: Cooking of the chicken stew. First put in cooking oil and onions. Then add carrots and garlic. Then add a fresh chicken.
Phase 7: Cook the side dishes. Irish potatoes and fresh pineapple.
This night spent with Doris and Okata was by far the best Acholi meal I had ever had. The food was fantastic (obvi) but the conversation was even better. Sitting around Doris' living room with the florescent light blinking on and off continuously, we talked about family, beliefs and the insurgency. As it grew dark, I couldn't help to imagine where we were and how unsafe it would have been for us to be there only six years before.
We learned of the reputation that the school had had--stubborn, undisciplined boys--and then the current teachers that came in after to change it for the better. This SSBS that they spoke of was unimaginable to us, so how did they get to this point? It's simple. Caring about their students. Getting to know them. Being Fair. Stop caning. Josh asked why they don't cane at SSBS. The reply was that it's against the law. True. But all the other schools cane. We've heard about it. I've seen it. We have many students impacted by the insurgency. Many were held captive. Many are former child soldiers. How many? In some classes, half of the students. They are still going through rehabilitation, recovery. We can't fight violence with violence. We never know what would happen if we caned someone that has grown up surrounded by violence. And I suddenly have a profound sense of respect for my partner teachers. I have to swallow it because it might come out in the form of tears.
The second phase of slaughtering a chicken is to pluck it's feathers, pictured here:
Phase three is putting the whole chicken on the fire to burn off any extra feathers (and keep the pussy cat away).
Phase 4: EWWWWWW, don't eat these parts. Gross!
Phase 5: Cut the chicken into pieces at the joints.
These are all of the usable parts. Yes, even the eggs. In Acholi culture, the eggs are given to the husband as a sign of respect. Doris and Okata are both teachers at SSBS, but are not married to each other (although they are both married and live away from their spouses). However, Okata got to eat the eggs.
Phase 6: Cooking of the chicken stew. First put in cooking oil and onions. Then add carrots and garlic. Then add a fresh chicken.
Phase 7: Cook the side dishes. Irish potatoes and fresh pineapple.
DINNER IS SERVED!
Phase 8: Thank the Lord for our food, eat and enjoy! (Yes, that is a gizzard on my plate. In Acholi culture, the visitor should always eat the gizzard as an honor. If the visitor is not given the gizzard, then they are not welcomed.)
This night spent with Doris and Okata was by far the best Acholi meal I had ever had. The food was fantastic (obvi) but the conversation was even better. Sitting around Doris' living room with the florescent light blinking on and off continuously, we talked about family, beliefs and the insurgency. As it grew dark, I couldn't help to imagine where we were and how unsafe it would have been for us to be there only six years before.
We learned of the reputation that the school had had--stubborn, undisciplined boys--and then the current teachers that came in after to change it for the better. This SSBS that they spoke of was unimaginable to us, so how did they get to this point? It's simple. Caring about their students. Getting to know them. Being Fair. Stop caning. Josh asked why they don't cane at SSBS. The reply was that it's against the law. True. But all the other schools cane. We've heard about it. I've seen it. We have many students impacted by the insurgency. Many were held captive. Many are former child soldiers. How many? In some classes, half of the students. They are still going through rehabilitation, recovery. We can't fight violence with violence. We never know what would happen if we caned someone that has grown up surrounded by violence. And I suddenly have a profound sense of respect for my partner teachers. I have to swallow it because it might come out in the form of tears.
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