See different cultures have different soul food and necessary food, Italians have pasta, Asians have rice and Zambians have nshima.... Well the Bengali culture puts rice and fish on the same level. I mean speak to Bengali and if they don't eat fish there is something seriously wrong with them. you go to parties and people's houses here in Kolkata and in majority of the cases, they will spend at least 10 to 15 minutes talking about what fish they had that week, how it was prepared, where they purchased it from, how much per kilo it was and which market sells the worst fish. For some reason the market nearest each of my family members sell the best quality fish so you can imagine the traveling one will need to do to get the best fish from allover. Its like a competition. A vacation is not complete if bong's haven't had fish.
Well now that I have explained the importance of fish for the soul, here is my problem....... I have been asked not to eat fish...... whaaaaat?????????????? Well about two weeks ago I went to see the family doctor at Colombia with a bit of a problem and he recommended some tests. Went back a few days later with the test results and the doctor looks at them then looks at me and tells me he has to change my diet. Unlike the last few times I have gone to him, he does not tell me I have to loose several kilos but this time he looks at me and slowly tells me I cant eat fish for at least 3 months and especially while I am on antibiotics..... To me thats fine and I could care less but the reaction on my doctors face was priceless. I still wish I had my camera to capture it. It was like he had to break the worst news to me and I think he was more surprised and sympathetic and sorry than I was....
Oh well my mother was thrilled as she isn't a big fan of fish and the less we have it at home the better it is for her :). Thought I would share this major cultural importance... a month and a half more to go :).
BTW Im collecting some home cooked bong fish pics which are to be posted when I have enough!
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