Gift of LifeCopyright 2009 Matt Mortensen
In October 1993 Americans learned where a small, East African country called Somalia was. It was not a welcome introduction, as was chronicled in the 2001 Hollywood film Blackhawk Down. Today, Somalia is still ravaged by in-fighting between clans with additional tension from the presence of Ethiopean troops. Of the approximately 10 million people living in the country, half are under 15 years old. The odds of these teenagers seeing their 50th birthday are sadly against them. Violence, on top of hepatitis, AIDS, and more exotic diseases like schistosomiasis make certain that few live long, happy lives. The most recent news of Somalia in the American media is the Navy SEAL takedown of the pirates who held American sea-faring merchants hostage. In fact, as I write this, Discovery Channel is broadcasting a special on this story.
So, where is all this coming from? For those of you don't know, Minnesota is home to one of the largest populations of Somali refugees. On the walk home from the Metrodome today, I stopped and grabbed some takeout from Sambuza Grill, a place I just happened to pass. I had the first item on the lunch menu - roasted goat (spicy) with bread. I should not have been shocked, but I was. Not only was the food indescribably delicious, but it came with free vegetable soup while I waited, a banana in the bag, and plenty of smiles from the workers and other customers. I am very jealous of a good friend of mine who travels all over the globe every year, but times like this remind me that I don't need a $1500 plane ticket in hand - I just need a grease-stained menu. Eating goat meat with my hands while still in Minnesota, my noise filled with odd smells and my ears not being able to decipher where strange words begin and end is cure enough for my travel bug today...
So, where is all this coming from? For those of you don't know, Minnesota is home to one of the largest populations of Somali refugees. On the walk home from the Metrodome today, I stopped and grabbed some takeout from Sambuza Grill, a place I just happened to pass. I had the first item on the lunch menu - roasted goat (spicy) with bread. I should not have been shocked, but I was. Not only was the food indescribably delicious, but it came with free vegetable soup while I waited, a banana in the bag, and plenty of smiles from the workers and other customers. I am very jealous of a good friend of mine who travels all over the globe every year, but times like this remind me that I don't need a $1500 plane ticket in hand - I just need a grease-stained menu. Eating goat meat with my hands while still in Minnesota, my noise filled with odd smells and my ears not being able to decipher where strange words begin and end is cure enough for my travel bug today...
