In the end, I went online. I searched by photos, by description, by shape. And when I finally found it, I couldn’t believe my eyes.
It turned out to be a water chestnut.
It’s eaten. You peel it, boil it, and eat it raw as well. In some countries it’s a common food, almost a delicacy. I had simply never seen anything like it in my life.
The next day I met the neighbors and told them I had figured out what it was. They were happy, started explaining something quickly, showing with gestures how to peel it and eat it.
And I caught myself thinking how strange the world is: for some people it’s a frightening, incomprehensible thing, and for others it’s simply “enjoy your meal.”
