Thursday, July 1, 2010

FIFA Cup full o' Goat Meat

So, Ted came to visit on his way to Seoul for a week or so. Traveling with Ted is always interesting. Some times I want to kick him in the balls over the small things, but it's a mutual feeling and one that seems to be a normal part of our 17 or so year-old relationship. Fuck, we're getting old. Anyway, I can't say I would have traveled to Dinant alone and gotten (relatively) lost in the forest behind the citadel, nor would I have searched for the remnants of the Leffe abbey and ended up watching a group of monks clad in white robes do their daily chanting. That was fun and utterly bizarre, as was the night life here in BXL which would often find us sharing a smoke under the psychadelic lights near the center. I was happy to show Ted around to the few places I knew about. I think by the time he left he had eaten Belgian frites, chocolate, mussels. Pakistani night-shop chicken from Tandooriland down the street. African, Brazilian, and who knows what. I even brought him along to one of my English classes and the couple were nice enough to feed both of us, so I guess he got his Francophonian gourmet on too.

I think our best discovery, though, was just here in Matongè where I live. Normally, when I go to grab some African food, it's cheap takeaway - 5€ for all the good stuff and chicken or tilapia. But seeing as Teddy was visiting and we wanted to watch America in the FIFA matches, we splurged and ended up going to sit down and eat. Bit more expensive, but for 10€ you get the meat of the gods. Goat meat. I don't think we were really in a sober state of mind when we first ordered it, because, well, who is when you look at a menu and decide Goat to be the best option? But sweet jesus was it good when we started eating it. I don't know what they do to it - marinade it, or what - but I'd say it rivaled or surpassed some of the best ribs I've had in the states. Course, you end up having to pay for a drink and then whatever else they might swindle you into buying... rice or plantains... but it's worth it. Never thought I'd find myself celebrating (or lamenting?) the wonders of goat meat in my life time, but here I am.

And then as quickly as Ted appeared, he vanished, off to do whatever Ted does. Who knows, he seemed in an adventurous mood. Maybe he decided to progressively step things up the further East he traveled. I haven't really heard from him since. I envision him in an opium lounge somewhere in Turkey dining on human flesh, or sitting in a communist prison in China, taking lots of pictures. I guess we'll see.

Speaking of communism, half way through the North Korea-Portugal match I expected the Koreans to give up and start eating handfuls of grass on the field, tears streaming from their eyes. Eat what you can while you have it, boys. Because someone, somewhere is going to get tortured for that absolute ass-thrashing and it's probably your family back in the Motherland. You don't get sent to represent Kim Jong Il to all the world and then lose 7 - nil. Actually, I think it's just a good rule of thumb to not represent Kim Jong Il at all, but that's hindsight, and dictatorship.

And now the US has lost to an African team-- a hard night for me, living here. In honor of Ted I would return to our table at Chez Ya Peggy and order goat from "mama", cheering on the US of A. I was the only white guy in the little restaurant and when we scored a goal my arms sprung into the air and everyone turned to look at me. I just shrugged with a smile. But by the end of the night, it was the Zairians or Congolese and maybe even a stray Ghanan blowing on their vuvuzelas and cheering on our defeat. Take that, white man.

And then Ghana lost to Uruguay yesterday and their cheering and tooting has since ceased. Sorry guys, how's it taste now? Not nearly as good as goat, I know that. At least we can all take solace in the fact that Brazil lost, and we all did better than England. For those watching, I don't think the FIFA cup is even as much about the sport as it is about cheering on your country and praying for the doom of others out of spite. It's the type of stuff that brings people together. I was happy I got to experience it here in Europe and with an old friend, to boot.

Now who else is going to come visit?

I'll update with some pics later when I'm not being lazy