Day 16: Eating with my fingers

Unless things have changed in the last 2 weeks, it is common for our 3 year-old Eden to eat with her fingers. She will start eating with her utensil but as soon as you turn your head she puts down the fork or spoon and starts eating with her fingers. It doesn't matter how messy the food, in her mind it is just better to use her fingers. Eden would have loved being with me today because we ate with our fingers...and we weren't even having bad manners.

Tonight as part of our of our introduction into the culture of Afghanistan, we had an Afghan feast. Here are a few differences between mealtime at my house and mealtime in Afghanistan.

1. They eat with their fingers. Now sometimes they do use utensils. However, the majority of times they eat with their fingers only. It is a little messy but hey, it makes for less dishes to do.
2. Sorry lefties. It is only proper to eat with your right hand. There are left handed people in Afghanistan but they all learn to eat with their right hand.
3. Men and women eat separately. Well this is not always true. If there are visitors or guests that have not eaten in the home before, then women are not to eat with the men. However, on a day to day basis families do eat together. I think Ammon and I will try eating by ourselves when I return home...I think it might be quieter. Well maybe not, he can get pretty rowdy himself.
4. Handwashing is required. Typically I tell the kids to wash their hands before dinner. Now them actually doing it is a different story. In Afghanistan it is required that you are "clean" prior to eating.
5. They sometimes eat at a table but often just sit on the ground with a tablecloth. My kids love picnics so this would probably go over well at home.

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We were served by native Afghans. They work with the Army and are an integral part of our language and cultural training. They seem to be pretty nice people. Other than that today consisted of sitting in the classroom for 9 hours! I thought my school days were over.

By the way, thanks to all of you who have been reading my blog and commenting. In a way it makes it feel like family and friends are nearby. Talk to you all soon.