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“So this is really what it tastes like? Wow! I would not have imagined the taste differently if I had not let my taste-buds explore it.” This was my response to Tondozo, one of the local tour guides who was with me throughout my stay in the land only the living know about. So many different stories have been written about Tanzanians; the good stories and the bad stories; especially the bad stories. However, experience is the best teacher. It can change even the habitual redundancies; things you were socialised never to imagine; a rigidness that is appreciated by our different communities. That was my reality until I was forced to bend the rules. Not that I did not have an option, but well why would I have chosen to limit my options when no one from my community was around. Yes, back at home I was always trapped in some kind of a panopticorn illusion, but well I was thousands of kilometres away from home, so that was my only defence, indeed it was my panacea. I told myself I was going to be open-minded and if need be, I would judge myself afterwards. A lot of people would imagine how, but if you are entrapped in some kind of reality; a reality you are socialised to know, the only truth you have known, it does become our religion. And you know how religion does for us Africans, not only us but everyone else. No wonder why many jokingly say that; ‘black people hate everything about slavery, except Christianity’. The only reality about it is; belief drives the human man, and religion and culture are sources of our belief. But the truth of the matter is you only live once, so I had to let loose and throw in some bit of adventure in my not so cool life. I chose to let loose by doing something I was so rigid about. And for what we all know, food unlocks the inside sense of appreciation and happiness. It took a lot of convincing until I conceded to the ineluctable desire to want to taste the rarest taste of a roasted banana. As I was munching it, Tondozo explained to me why culturally Tanzanians prefer roasted bananas than freshly ripe banana. He explained that it boosts the sweetness of the banana and it increases its richness in potassium and other nutrients. I could not have agreed with him if I had not chewed it hot in my mouth, with its sweetness impeccably tinkling my taste buds. This unlocked my appetite; ‘born-appetite’ so I could not help it but try a lot more other fruits prepared and preserved in the traditional way. It made me feel humbly connected with the local people. Surely, if I could enjoy their traditionally prepared food, unusual to my socialisation, indeed there would be nothing stopping me from connecting with the local folk.