Half way point

A special humpday dinner of potatoes and
a quarter can of beans

It's Wednesday, which means we're half way through the challenge. I woke up really agitated today. No headaches, but just severe irritation with everything around me. I can certainly understand why someone who lived this way day in and day out would feel generally defeated.

In the meantime, Miri rushed off to school without eating breakfast and forgot her lunch, which we had packed in advance (yep... cabbage and pap again). I drove to the school to leave it for her to prevent her from starving through the day or breaking the challenge with food from friends... not really a viable option for those living below the line.

As the day went on, I started to do better. I tried to put things in perspective. I'm eating nearly as much food as I would regularly, just without the snacks (and the luxury items like coffee or wine), but I'm also eating less rounded meals. Mostly carbs and a little bit of cooked veg, much like the labourers heading to work with their half loaves of white bread for lunch. You can buy half loaves of bread in South Africa specifically for the fact that it's a good filler for those on a tight budget. Truly humbling.

This afternoon someone knocked on our door as tends to happen a few times a week. They were asking for food or money or even bottles to return, and initially my husband turned them away. We don't always say no, but there's a point at which I guess we don't want to be the go-to house that always has food. I yelled WAIT as this week more than any I want to give away as much as we can. We had it to spare since Miri and I aren't eating much, and the thought of someone leaving without some fresh fruit or veg was beyond my comprehension. But it is a fine balance we all contend with living so near to poverty. If we all gave a little when we could...