Ok, I have to admit it: I do not like “funje”. “Funje” is the local maize or manioc “mash”, which forms the basis to pretty much every meal. Most Angolans would say they couldn’t imagine not eating funje at least once a day. The real “test” for a good housewife is her ability of preparing funje. No party would be complete without a hearty funje meal. But while I’m curious enough to taste anything, no matter how “weird” it looks or smells, I am just not able to go crazy for funje and crave it when I have to go a day without it. So, I end of confirming local stereotypes. White people like potatoes. Check. And pasta. Check. White women prefer vegetables to chicken or beef. I’m no vegetarian, but check. They also think that a bowl of fruit can actually be a full meal. The perfect lunch when it’s 30 degrees outside: mango, pineapple, passion fruit and a bit of guava juice. Check. White folks can’t live without coffee. Check!! And perhaps their skin colour is due to the fact that they drink so much milk… Who knows! But check the milk-drinking bit. It’s nice to know that in any case we can all sit together at the same table and wonder and laugh about each others “weird” food preferences!
