Day Seventy

21/07/25 - Day Seventy

Woke at 0530 to the loud call to prayer outside my window. Slept again. I walked back to Yunus’ house and had a big Kurdish breakfast spread! Scrambled eggs with tomatoes, peppers and spices. 3 types of cheeses. Olives, chips, grapes, yogurt, Kurdish layered flatbread, grape molasses sauce, homemade butter, cucumber. We visited Yunus’ uncles next door, a kebab man, and was invited to his son’s engagement party later that day! Next, we visited Yunus’s grandmother along with Isam, she made me some ayran with her organic yogurt. 

Indecision set in about whether to crack on or stay. I decided to stay, engagement party sounded like too good an opportunity to miss, afterall it’s not everyday you get the offer to one! Yunus’ sister and her family arrived. More relatives came later. Then we all went to the party, Yunus left so his wife could meet his family and see the village. I met another German Yunus who looked after me well, getting a second portion of the food for me. it was a meat stew served with bulgar and vegetable. Plus a baklava. The women sat on the far side waiting for their turn to come and eat, which didn’t seem quite fair to me. 

I sat and watched the dancing for a while, before Mesut came and we shared some lamacun and ayran. I talked with other Yunus some more, making a fool of myself when I offered out my hand to shake when I met his wife. Idiot. I asked him if it would be okay for me to join the dance. To which he said of course, but best to go amongst the unmarried girls or men. It took me sometime to get the hang of it, but it flowed very pleasingly when i finally did. The dance was simple, consisting of a chain or circle of people linked by pinky fingers, two steps back followed by four to the right and repeat. All whilst shaking your arms in circles from the shoulder and elbow. I spoke to some younger Kurds, who also turned out to be related to Yunus. The engaged cut the wedding cake and shared in a slow dance to a fanfare of sparklers and cheers from the crowd. Home and slept at mosque again!

 

Feeding baby Isam

 

Big ol’ breakfast = happy Louis!

 


Thank you Yunus for your impeccable hospitality, the chance to meet all of your wonderful family and learn about your culture. It is an experience I will treasure for the rest of my days, restoring my faith in humanity, for lack of a better term!

 

 

 

 

 

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