A party!

The other day I went to an Afghan 'party'.  I actually didn't know it was, until I heard the music and walked in the door to the loud music.  They had this Afghan group playing.  he way they play is that the dudes get in front of the mics with their instruments, etc. - except that instead of standing, they're all sitting on mattresses playing away and singing to top of their lungs.  I must say - they were really good!  I asked for the themes of the songs to be translated, and I was told that some were ballads, traditional songs, etc..  Many of the songs were written in honour of somebody there.  Some songs began like: '_________ is the warrior of __________', etc., etc..  I was intrigued to see how they danced.  (By the way - this party was with only men).  These guys got up (Afghans) and began to dance going in a big circle with neat spins, hand clapping, etc..  I thought it cool and wouldn't mind jumping in just to learn, except that it wouldn't look good or professional.  I dunno - mingling with the locals could be fun!  I'll see if I can get a recording of the music to bring home. 

 

After the dancing we sat to eat.  What a huge feast!  I instinctively made the sign of the cross to pray Grace Before Meals.  At first I thought Oops!  That might cause a ruckus... but whatever.  When I looked up - nobody seemed to care, since everyone was digging in to the food!  Now - when I say 'digging in' - I mean digging in!  Imagine a soldier digging a trench in the middle of a bombardment... and that's the haste of eating!  I was trying to be polite by waiting my turn to go for food, etc..  An American who was very schooled in culture told me that if I don't get in the melee - you won't get any food!  SO - I had to set aside my hesitations, and before I knew it, I felt like I was in the dinner scene from the movie Oliver Twist where everyone was going for the food!  I was going nuts since they didn't have napkins (within reach) so I had to tolerate a greasy mouth (of... which drives me crazy!  Haha!).  Funny thing - as I was walking in to the meal, I heard a Westerner say - 'only eat the rice!  Don't go for the meat... or you might regret it!'.  I thought - hey - this guy must know more than me, so rice it is!  When the meal was ongoing, I was eating rice thinking - we're doing good here, when suddenly someone grabbed a hunk of meat and slapped it on my plate.  Not wanting to offend my hosts I thought: 'Well - I guess I'm going to be eating the meat today!'  Anyhow - it all tasted great!  Those of you who know me know my efforts to cleanliness in utensils, etc., and my efforts to manners.  Many times I've had to just suck it up and offer it up.  One time I was shocked was in eating the delicious watermelon, or fried chicken, or anything that had either seeds or bones - dudes verywhere would spit the stuff out on the table space in front of them as seeds are bouncing off the table and into your 'personal space'... or directly into the serving plate that holds the food.  You just have to offer it up, smile... and serve yourself another spoonful or serving... and try to avoid the recently spit seed.  Well - that's how it goes.  Don't get me wrong - I am quite endeared to my new companions here - they are a charming people! 

 

Aside from this cultural difference, more importantly - I was touched by the Afghan efforts to hospitality.  They are SO warm in their hospitality!  The Pashtuns have a code by which they live.  One of the things that is very important to them is hospitality.  This hospitality, I have been told, goes to the great extent that IF they pledge you their protection, they will protect you with the lives of even members of their family, if need be.  I have heard of tales of injured soldiers who were found unconscious by Pashtuns and were taken to safety and hidden from insurgents.  Anyhow - I digress.  I was touched by their attempts at hospitality when I ate down to the bottom of my bowl.  Stcuk to the face of the bottom of my bowl sat staring at me... a UPC code and product sticker!  It seemed to me that they went out of their way to give us the nicest plates they could, so they went and bought the plates... and put them into immediate use!  I was touched by the effort, as I noticed that even the utensils I was using were right out of the package - new.  After the melee and eating-fest, I was surprised to see another group that came in, and using the same plates, utensils, etc. - dug in for the leftovers.  I gather that's just the way it goes here.

 

The other day I stopped off at a bakery.  This time, I was invited to where they shaped bread - kneading it with your hands, and stamping the decoration on it.  The Afghans were all smiles as they shuffled me to the workspot and cheered as they invited me to work along with them.  So in I went - kneading dough and getting my hands 'dirty' in the dough which will make the delicious and warm flatbread.  Mmmm!  Nobody was translating for us - we were all like kids together - as if with playdough with an old Afghan man overseeing the quality control of his new Canadian worker.  It was alot of fun!  I tell you - you can quickly fall in love with these people when you and they all realize we're all just human beings... and sons and daughters of God, on a common journey to our real homeland.  Two different faiths, One common God.  When peace comes to this country - I hope you all can experience the warmth of their smiles and hospitality also.