Today, I spent the morning with another house group. 27 people were in a small room to sing, learn and eat together. The community that has been built here is so strong, loving and supportive. We had a big breakfast for lunch and I left quite full. I went with a new friend that I met at the group on a house visit to a new people group that I hadn't had any exposure with.
Well, we carpooled with some friends over to the neighborhood we would be visiting. Then, we walked the rest of the way to the family’s home. Their family was made of the mom and dad, a high-school boy and high-school girl. Their guard opened the gate for us and we walked into a housing compound of a 4-story home! It was so big! Off to the side was a separate building where the parents were already visiting with some friends. This separate building was a typical home for their people group.
The dad explained everything to me. He told me that the room would usually be used for eating, talking, sleeping, everything. It is a room covered in carpet and with different levels of floor for different types of people. The kids sit on the left (kind of behind the door), the women right in front of the door and the man of the house on a higher platform to the right of the women. Other family and visiting friends sit on the levels behind the women of the home. There are pillows surrounding each section and it is appropriate to lounge on one’s side with the pillow under your arm so that your body is propped up to see the rest of the room. (And I forgot to mention: your shoes come off at the door.) The walls have some built-in shelves for baskets to eat on or vases to put things in, like jewelry for the women. He explained that if I ever visit another home of another family in their people group, I will know what I can expect.
After lounging for awhile over a pillow :), we went into the main house. I was showed every story of the house and told about every room. The dad also talked to me about his two children who are both US citizens. They were born in the States and have their citizenship there. In fact, when he introduced them, he said: “They are American, you know?” The children will go to college in the States and the parents plan to follow soon after, obtaining a US citizen ship at that time.
And now for the food part: I haven’t mentioned very much etiquette or culture about food, but it was bound to come up sometime since I have been in so many local people’s homes. Here’s the deal: some people (including this family) want you to eat and eat and eat. First, we were served chai tea and some sort of cake with raisins in it. We were expected to eat it and then accept the seconds that followed. They offered chocolate pieces with the cake. I don’t know that it all went together, but it was a very good cultural gesture serving us so much food and especially offering chocolate to us, which is quite the delicacy here. THEN, after eating in the traditional room followed by the tour, we sat down again to talk, this time inside. And guess what? They brought out bananas with the ends just cut off. Of course eating one wasn’t enough... they were offered over and over.
On a side note: I learned something new about beggars. Today, I heard someone outside the gate of the house shouting and banging a pot. Then, they waited. The dad told me to look out the window at the top of the house. We then watched a little girl take her bags and her pot down the street, stopping and calling at each gate. He said she begs door-to-door every day and that it isn’t uncommon to see (or hear, rather) door-to-door beggars. After a few houses, someone opened their gate and gave her food. I guess they were expecting her. :)
I loved visiting this family. They were so kind and insisted that I stay with them if I ever come back to the city. They also mentioned staying with me in the States. :) I wonder what my roommates would think of me bringing in a family of four to stay for who knows how long and then serving them who knows how much food! :) It’s alright, girls at The Hill: they don’t have our address!
I also had a great Sunday night: I got back to the house and was able to catch up with some great family and friends... on the sat. phone.
Speaking of the sat. phone, it’s about time I mentioned it. I think an ode will do it quite nicely for an introduction:
ODE TO THE SAT. PHONE
My Dad loves and cares for me.
And, he wants me to be safe.
So for me he paid a fee.
And I call him... that’s the trade.
My friends love my new sat. phone.
See their pictures... I’m not shy.
In all the world, it won’t roam.
So big it can touch the sky.
Now, won’t you give it a try?
You want one, I know... don’t lie. :)
That’s the best ode I can write after a long day. I know it isn’t a good poem, so please don’t hate. :) (I feel like it’s okay to write bad poems as long as you know they are bad... and I know: it is bad.)
Have a great night!
Laura
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