Chakula cha mchana ambacho nchi nzima inakula

Ni muda mfupi baada ya adhuhuri. Barabara iko kimya sasa. Maduka yanafunga mapema kwa chakula cha mchana. Mkahawa mmoja mdogo umejaa watu.

It is just after midday. The street is quiet now. Shops close early for lunch. One small restaurant is full of people.

Katika Jamhuri ya Dominika, chakula cha mchana ndicho mlo mkubwa. Sahani ina wali, maharagwe, kuku, na saladi. Watu wanakiita la bandera. Hiyo ina maana bendera.

In the Dominican Republic, lunch is the big meal. The plate has rice, beans, chicken, and salad. People call it la bandera. That means the flag.

Muda ndio muhimu, si chakula chenyewe. Saa tisa, chakula kimekwisha. Kula wakati kila mtu anakula. Kisha kunywa kahawa kidogo na kurudi nje.

Timing matters, not the food. At three, the food is gone. Eat when everyone eats. Then have a small coffee and go back outside.