The Best Boiled Eggs Ever
My last day in Enugu, Nigeria with Novick Cardiac Alliance was the start of 24 hours of return travel to the states. Our hosts took us to a small restaurant to eat and pass some time during a long layover in Lagos. There weren't any dishes without meat or fish in them, so I ordered jollof, a West African rice dish, by itself. The waitress was initially confused - I wanted rice without meat or fish? And then she seemed concerned. I could imagine her thought process - what is this silly, lanky white girl thinking? She needs some protein.
We joked that my jollof would likely be served with a surprise piece of chicken. The surprise was instead two boiled eggs. I was ridiculously excited because I did need some protein and they were delicious - perfectly boiled and still warm! More than that, though, I was touched. If I can't find any non-meat or fish dishes on a menu I don't make a big deal about it. So when I didn't even ask her for vegetarian options and she brought the two perfectly boiled eggs to the table, I was stunned by her generosity and concern. She had to have 1) inferred I don't eat meat or fish, 2) figured out something else I could eat instead, 3) asked the cooks if there were any spare eggs, and 4) likely had to talk them into serving them in a nontraditional way with a plate of jollof. Moreover, I knew the tiny restaurant and its staff were overwhelmed by the group of 15 sweaty, tired visitors that showed up at once.
This wouldn't have happened in the West. Even if I thought of asking for some eggs, I wouldn't have actually asked for fear of having my food spit on because of the inconvenience of creating my own dish.
I realize this likely sounds insignificant. Did I really dedicate a post to Nigerian boiled eggs? I did. But it's more than an homage to the eggs; it's a commentary about the generosity exhibited by people who have the least to give. Unsuspecting moments like these are among my favorites reasons to travel.
We joked that my jollof would likely be served with a surprise piece of chicken. The surprise was instead two boiled eggs. I was ridiculously excited because I did need some protein and they were delicious - perfectly boiled and still warm! More than that, though, I was touched. If I can't find any non-meat or fish dishes on a menu I don't make a big deal about it. So when I didn't even ask her for vegetarian options and she brought the two perfectly boiled eggs to the table, I was stunned by her generosity and concern. She had to have 1) inferred I don't eat meat or fish, 2) figured out something else I could eat instead, 3) asked the cooks if there were any spare eggs, and 4) likely had to talk them into serving them in a nontraditional way with a plate of jollof. Moreover, I knew the tiny restaurant and its staff were overwhelmed by the group of 15 sweaty, tired visitors that showed up at once.
This wouldn't have happened in the West. Even if I thought of asking for some eggs, I wouldn't have actually asked for fear of having my food spit on because of the inconvenience of creating my own dish.
I realize this likely sounds insignificant. Did I really dedicate a post to Nigerian boiled eggs? I did. But it's more than an homage to the eggs; it's a commentary about the generosity exhibited by people who have the least to give. Unsuspecting moments like these are among my favorites reasons to travel.
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