You put your right hand in you put your right hand out...you put your left hand in...NEVER

Wouldn't life be so much easier at restaurants if you didn't have to wait those initial 10-15 minutes for everyone to decide what they want to eat? Problem solved here in Senegal as everyone not only eats the same thing, but from the same plate.  I don't know the technical term, or if one even exists, but Communal Meals seems to work as as pretty accurate description.  Men of the household and special guests may get their own plate but for the most part meals are served in one large bowl with the rice spread evenly around for all and one big mound of the main ta-dah (surprise surprise...fish) in the middle.  Occasionally there might be an additional carrot, spare cabbage leaves or a potato scattered about for the taking, but usually that description above would do for all the meals I've eaten here.  Variety comes in the type of rice...spicy, brown, white, or my favorite choice, this quite strange almost asian tasting version.   Additional sauces are available on the side to add to your portion of the dish, which brings me to the unspoken words of etiquette when it comes to communal meals.  First, imagine the big plate as a pizza, cut into slices.  Your slice lies directly in front of you.  I've arranged my slice just how I like it so don't come over here messing it up!  Though you don't reach outside of your area for the taking you can give to others.  As is the norm in this communal based culture (a breathe of fresh air from the individualistic nature of the states),  people often make sure those they are eating with are satisfied by offering some of the best pieces of the meal that so luckily landed in his/her slice of the pie.  For example, the mother of  my family, noticing I had no idea how to debone a fish (possibly made evident by me choking and spitting up bones during my first meal) debones the fish for me and throws the fresh meat in my area.  Its actually quite nice.  I wouldn't be surprised if this type of eating back home turned into a fight every time as everyone, out for themselves, made a mad  dash for what they wanted to eat, never considering those around them.  But here..everyone eats, everyone gets full.  The attitude of making sure everyone else is satisfied somehow always comes full circle until we are all happy.  But I digress.  Unspoken rule number two:  you eat with your right hand only.  Occasionally spoons may be available, but I've actually started to think things taste better when you eat it with your hands.  I've gotten the technique down pretty good..scoop scoop, squeeze together to compact, and enjoy the rice ball you've created starting with your mouth starting at your palm rolling upwards to lick the stray grains of rice off your fingertips.  You supposedly only use your right hand for sanitation purposes.  The left hand is used for...well I'll leave that to your imagination.  Strangely (well to me anyway) washing of the hands is only done after the meal.  Yes after you've already spread all the germs from your day into the food I must now put in my mouth.  I always sneak to the side and wash my hands when water is available, or at the very least hand sanitize. Though it makes me feel better, my antics are pointless since no one else sharing my plate does the same.  My germophobic ways aside, I quite enjoy this way of eating.  It forces the family to come together and exhibit characteristics that makes for a strong family.  It really is a beautiful thing to sit back and watch.  This for sure will be a practice I will take home to my family, maybe not everyday but at least once a week.  Perhaps the days I don't feel like doing dishes since after feeding a family of 6 with one additional American (yours truly!), my mom here is only left with one dish to wash!

This isn't my family here because I think they might think I was crazy if I took the picture, but you get the idea.