Some Basics about Life in Botswana- Part 1: Food

In case anyone is interested, I've decided to document a few things that I've noticed about Botswana (and subsequently grown used to over the last 3 months) in the next few blog entries. If anyone has anything in particular they want to hear about, just email me and I'll be sure to answer your questions! It's an interesting place to say the least!
Food: So traditional Setswana cuisine takes some getting used to, a little moreso for me coming from a vegetarian diet- a usual meal consists of chicken (usually boiled with salt and flavoring packets)- chicken breast is not popular here, people are very fond of the other parts and even eat the bones. The side dishes usually consist of phaleche (papa)- a thick porridge made from maize meal; samp- maize cooked until thick and lumpy and flavored with salt (also often combined with beans); beetroot salad (mostly just shredded beets); coleslaw; merogo (vegetables)- I've had many combinations of leafy greens sauteed with carrots, onions, and potatoes. Cattle are praised in this country, but beef is eaten mostly for special occasions because of it's cost. One delicacy that I rarely see here but has a reputation for being delicious is the mophane worm- it's a caterpillar that is usually deep fried until crispy. I actually ate one- it tasted fine, but I was a little freaked out by how much it still resembled a caterpillar- very interesting!
As far as drinks are concerned, tea is customary for guests- usually rooibos (red) tea is served (with tons of sugar for most Batswana I've met) and black tea is popular as well. Sadly for me, it's very hard to get real coffee- there is mostly instant coffee which is mixed with chicory and a filler substance- not to be consumed without lots of milk and sugar. Alcoholic drinks are extremely popular here- alcoholism is a huge problem but one that is not addressed or even recognized in most of the country. The most common drink is called Chibuku, or shake shake, which is sold at stands all over paper cartons- it's a beer made from sorghum that is unfiltered and very sour and bitter. Otherwise there is lots of beer and wine imported from South Africa, and a cream liqueur called Amarula, made from the marula fruit (similar to Irish cream or kahlua, with a slightly fruitier taste).