Lunch in a refugee camp?

I have yet to encounter a family who does not tell me- 'I want to make you fat'. Food is an important part of the culture in the camp and women ought to be big -it is seen as a sign of beauty and good health. Families get offended if you don't eat enough as a guest, and if there is a type of food you don't touch you can be certain they think you don't like it and not because you don't have room for another banana.

Last week I went over to Sunniva's house to pick up a book. Sunniva's mother Shidi noticed my arrival and without saying a word, she pured more food onto Sunniva's plate and told us both to come for lunch. Now, I had not told my family that I was eating out and I knew my family was waiting for me at home. After a little discussion, Sunniva and I came to an agreement we later regretted very much. In order to not offend any of our families I would first eat at Sunniva's place and then together walk over to to my family for our second lunch. Little did we know about the amount of food that we would have to force down.

Having eaten couscous, beans, bread, yogurt, soup and salad we could barely walk. Still, my family was quite offended as none of us ate very much and continuously asked why we didn't like the food. Report's from Sunniva's house were quite similar, and the half-finished plate at Shidi's house was the topic for many days after.

Now, I agree with you that this sounds like crazy Westerners eating all the food meant for the refugees. I must add that the project pays our host-families and thus there is always money enough for food. Secondly, Saharawi families don't cook less even though you insist on smaller portions. My sister Lala even said once when I asked her for less food 'I don't know how to cook little'. However, and perhaps more to the point, is the Saharawi generosity. They only want the very best for their guests and whether that means they have to eat dry bread the next day is not any problem. Whenever a family has money they share with everyone, and their sense of solidarity is greater than anywhere else I have seen.

Yet, as a result of their generous hospitality, we are simply gaining weight in the Saharawi refugee camp.