In Venezuela, Rodents Can Be a Delicacy

The New York Times ^ | 21 Mar 2007 | Simon Romero

[Eclectica]

Years ago, the most famous B&W film describing an Amazon piranha-attack was a capybara chased into the water—then shot. It was a white skeleton in minutes.

[DreamsofPolycarp]

Years ago, while working with Wycliffe Bible Translators in Colombia, I was in the southeastern mountains with a small group of indigenous people called the Cuaquier (pr. Kwi ee ker). It took us 9 hours of hiking through the most inhospitable terrain imaginable to reach them (up hill, down hill, up hill, down hill). They spoke little if any Spanish, were isolated, and lived in degradation, squalor, drunkenness, and worse. We were working on a project to learn their language, reduce it to writing, teach them how to read their own language, and translate the New Testament into their language.

Anyway.... We lived with them for about a week and a half, doing some general work, and securing 5 of them to go back to the "camp" (Lomalinda, Colombia, now in the slap dab middle of FARC territory) and work on linguistics. We paid them to spend the night in their homes and feed us. Our meals were simple.... boiled green bananas, three times a day. Kinda like oatmeal but not as tasty (smile). One night we got a special treat, MEAT! They had a few hogs and chickens, but these were reserved for the indians themselves. We got the next best thing. A jungle rat, commonly eaten by the Indians. I would (and will) eat anything, so I just dug in. And you know what? It tasted GOOOOOOODDDDD! I would happily eat it again.

The happiest memories of that trip, though, were listening to Lee tell of a man who healed others and then claimed to have authority to forgive sins. The hearers made the quick jump (as had the Pharisees years ago) that only (a) God could make such a claim. I have memories of being exahusted, in smokey rooms/huts, with dark, impassive eyes looking intently as Lee read this brand new story. That time was the highlight of my life.

But yeah, I ate rat, and it was good.

[MaryFromMichigan]

First laugh of the day!
:)

[reg45]

The trees are next, just like in North Korea.

[metmom]

I suppose if you're hungry enough, anything can be considered a delicacy.

Excuse me while I go to......

[metmom]

I visited some missionary friends in Colombia once and my favorite food there was yucca fries. Beat french fries hands down. I wasn't brave enough to try any meat, like gerbil or hamster, or whatever it is they keep around the house and grow. I think it was gerbil. They can get to pretty enormous size.

[Slings and Arrows]

De nada, chica.

[DreamsofPolycarp]

I visited some missionary friends in Colombia once and my favorite food there was yucca fries.

Yucca fries! I think the best thing about them is that they don't soak up as much grease. I agree that they beat french fries hands down. I also loved papaya. I have returned to Latin/South America several times over the years, I love it so. I actually hitchiked down there and back (no road between Panama and Colombia, so had to fly for that stretch). I went all the way from Panama to my home in Alabama starting with 37 dollars in my pocket. The warmth, kindness, and hospitality of the people I met was something that impressed me deep down inside.

For this reason, when I see some of the hateful slurs about Latinos people post when they get riled up about the immigration problems, it really frosts me.

Because of my wife's health, a career with Wycliffe was impossible. However, we are thinking about "retirement" as ESL teachers either in Colombia or Ecuador. I can pick up a masters degree at a local univ in a year.

Thanks for the response.
DoP

[Fiddlstix]

Thank you, my dear. That was very thoughtful of you J

[HungarianGypsy]

Ugh! I think I'll pass on this one. ;-)

[Lady Jag]

Housewife prepares capybara for dinner.

[Calpernia]

So that is what happened to FR!

Venezuelan hunters heard about John Robinson's new upgrade!

We were attacked!

[Slings and Arrows]

Happy capy!

[Rb ver. 2.0]

"It's called a capybara and it scares the hell out of me"

[Seadog Bytes]

Ulp! ...Now where DID I put those little white bags???