I come from a hometown where meals are simple and predictable. Rice and bread are not just food to us they are a lifestyle. Every morning, afternoon, and night, you could find rice on the fire or bread on the table. We never really thought about food beyond that. It was what we knew, what we loved, and what we depended on.

Everything changed when CorpsAfrica posted me to Mamadi Ceesay Kunda.

Mamadi Ceesay Kunda is a community of farmers, a place where people depend on the land for survival. Here, food is not something you buy from a shop; it is something you grow with your own hands. The people eat what they cultivate, and every meal tells a story of hard work, patience, and gratitude.

It was in this community that I encountered “Futoo” , a cereal .

Futoo is the staple food here. Everyone eats it children, adults, elders. It is a symbol of their culture and daily life. But when I first saw it, I was unsure. It looked strange, unfamiliar, and honestly, unappetizing to me. I wondered how people could enjoy it so much. In my mind, I labeled it “unconsumable.”

For days, I avoided it.

But one day, hunger, curiosity, and the desire to truly understand this community pushed me forward. I watched how people ate it with joy, how it brought families together, and how it was served with pride. I realized that if I wanted to belong, I had to try.

So, I gathered courage.

I took my first spoonful.

To my surprise, it wasn’t bad at all. In fact, it was comforting, filling, and delicious in its own way. With every spoon, my fear disappeared. What I once judged became something I appreciated. Today, Futoo is one of my favorite meals.

This journey taught me more than just a new taste it taught me openness. From a boy who depended solely on rice and bread, I became someone who embraced a new culture through food. Mamadi Ceesay Kunda didn’t just change my diet; it changed my mindset.

From rice to Futoo, I found more than a meal.

I found connection, belonging and happiness.