Well, here’s a dinner party like none other we’ve ever experienced!
Wednesday evening we were invited to dinner at one of Hapne’s aunt’s house. We arrived at 8 and sat in a large circle on woven mats on the floor. There were 20 or so people altogether. Several aunts were involved in the production of rice, 3 kinds of chicken (fried, curried, and barbecued), and sliced cucumbers and tomatoes. Containers of water were placed around the mats for washing hands (but only one’s right hand, never the left). Our mugs were filled with hot water (to assure us that the drinking water had been boiled and was safe). There wasn’t a spoon, fork, or knife to be had. All food was served and eaten with the fingers of the right hand only. Other than these distinctions, it was like any large extended family eating together. A prayer of thanks for the food was offered in Batak, of course, and most of the chatter and conversation was a mixture of at least 3 languages (German being the third, owing to one uncle who lives in Switzerland with his Austrian wife and 3 children). We finished the meal with pieces of Swiss chocolate. It was a surreal dinner scene, but we enjoyed ourselves immensely. When we thanked our hosts we were whisked away to our resort on the back of 2 motor scooters (sorry, Paula….no helmets here!).
Wednesday evening we were invited to dinner at one of Hapne’s aunt’s house. We arrived at 8 and sat in a large circle on woven mats on the floor. There were 20 or so people altogether. Several aunts were involved in the production of rice, 3 kinds of chicken (fried, curried, and barbecued), and sliced cucumbers and tomatoes. Containers of water were placed around the mats for washing hands (but only one’s right hand, never the left). Our mugs were filled with hot water (to assure us that the drinking water had been boiled and was safe). There wasn’t a spoon, fork, or knife to be had. All food was served and eaten with the fingers of the right hand only. Other than these distinctions, it was like any large extended family eating together. A prayer of thanks for the food was offered in Batak, of course, and most of the chatter and conversation was a mixture of at least 3 languages (German being the third, owing to one uncle who lives in Switzerland with his Austrian wife and 3 children). We finished the meal with pieces of Swiss chocolate. It was a surreal dinner scene, but we enjoyed ourselves immensely. When we thanked our hosts we were whisked away to our resort on the back of 2 motor scooters (sorry, Paula….no helmets here!).
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