Categories: friends, food, culture
Date: 30 March 2009 00:59:53
I am definitely not claiming to be an expert after four hours at a one year old's birthday, but it was fascinating to see, taste and feel some of the culture of Eritrea yesterday.
Food?: in one word, spicy. Rather spicy. And for poor me, who cannot handle any chilli, I was glad to have a glass of water nearby. But it was beautiful. Stews & curries, made from lentils and other vegetables, placed on top of the deliciouis Eritrean bread, Injera. There were also rice dishes and some absolutely scrumptious chicken. Mmm.
Greeting each other appears also very important: as someone walked in they went around and either shaked-hands, kissed-on-the-cheek, or did something which involved touching shoulders, with everyone. It was also clear that pride in appearance plays a large part: no shorts and t-shirts here! The ladies were wonderfully dressed in either smart suits or bright, traditional clothing.
Another lovely thing was the bringing around of roasted coffee beans to smell: the person waved the pot in front on you and you waved your hands over it and towards your face to take in the smell. And as someone who loves, nay adores!, the smell of fresh roasted coffee beans, it was a beautiful smell indeed. And I was told the reason for doing this was simply that it is a pleasing smell and a welcoming one.
When it came time for the birthday cake, all manner of food and drink, including a traditional Eritrean cake [a very large circular piece of bread], were placed on the table with the birthday cake, as a sign and wish for blessing [may he have all] in the young fellow's life.
Many, many years to young Abraham! And my sincerest thanks to my colleague, Rissom, and his wife and mother, for letting me share in this special day.