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Kyrgyzstan

Mar
2004-09-14 15:23:35

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of the younger women speaks German and on our way to their yurts, we collect all questions we are now able of asking. The family is from Naryn and will go back at the end of august.
Only fishermen will stay at the lake during the winter. The family has registered for a hundred years and will register again for another period of hundred years. Their place is one hectare. When we arrive, we are invited in the yurt that is used as living room. A long table low to the ground is made up with all sorts of food. We spot the jam and because we have tasted this home-made jam several times before, we grab hungry for it, delicious. It seems it never minds what you take and how much, as long as you take something. Therefore, we empty the cup of jam.

The Yurt is one of the most beautiful we have seen so far, the framework is painted red and there are so many of the felt cloths pinned to the framework that we cant possible see them all. Everything is in good shape and colorful. The table is always made up for those who pass by, mostly family. Never forget to take off your shoes, even though I am always quite embarrassed for the smell of the kilometers these shoes have done for the day. We are pointed to a place on the ground and are provided with felt pillows and rugs. The tea is served in half full cups only and whenever you finish the cup, you will be offered another half as soon as someone notices you’ve finished the first. There’s always one woman of the family that seems to have the job of serving tea, and by providing only half’s she can be even more generous to guests. We have learned to take over the cup of tea because they will never put it down on the table for you. As well we have learned that everything you finish will be replaced by another, including the things you don’t like to drink or eat. Bread is never placed upside down and is always torn in pieces and placed next to our plate.

After a very welcome lunch we play and talk for ...