Western Medicine meets Eastern Medicine

A week ago we all came down with a fever, fatigue and head-cold like symptoms, each on different days of course.  For John and I it lasted about 2 days, the boys on the other hand are over the fevers but still have lingering coughs.  When people heard the boys where sick with fevers we were offered a great deal of advice:  

-“It’s the weather or change in the weather as it has been especially hot.”  I, Erin, still am not use to the heat, so it always feels hot and to me doesn't seem to change much, except the occasional rain which we haven’t seen in over a week. 

-“You shouldn’t take them out at midday, didn’t you go out yesterday?”  Yes the boys and I went to an air-conditioned mini-mart at 11am.  This is not a new activity for us.  We usually go to the outdoor market mid-morning as well, usually it is quite crowded at that time!

-“It is the boys’ fan; it blows so hard every night.”  To this I had to reply, “They have been using that fan for almost two years now.” 

-“Oh don’t give them fried bananas, there is a lot of oil and it will just make their coughs worse, by making their mucous thicker.” 

Getting sick while living with a family has provided a great deal of insight into their health beliefs.  It has also been difficult to show them appreciation when I don’t anticipate following their advice.  Being from a western culture I know we rely a great deal on science and medicine.  But as I try using terms like germs, viruses, and bacteria it does not communicate what I desire as these terms are not commonly used or seen as the sole cause of sickness.  Then I think about trying to describe these unseen, by the naked eye, and very abstract things and realize I would not sound too different then they sound to me as they describe unseen 'forces' that effect people. 

We managed the fevers with Tylenol and ibuprofen, and the overall sickness with rest, lots of fluids and vitamin C.  I also found it difficult to explain, in another language, that the Tylenol and ibuprofen where both to manage symptoms, not actually solve the cause.  These aren't even the most important truths, yet they are so difficult to explain in another language to people who don't start from the same foundation as us. 

Brick making part 2

We were invited back to the brick making area to see the next step in the process.  After all the bricks are dry and neatly stacked, fires are built and kept burning for 3-5 days.  The heat was very intense as we took these picture. 



On our way to the baking bricks: taking place in the structure in the distance.

Bricks are stacked to create tunnels for the fire.

It all takes places under a wooden structure!

Sheets of metal are placed over the openings as the fire burns.

Wood is added by hand as needed, occasionally using a long stick to push it further in.

Adventures

These days my, Erin, biggest adventures are in patience and flexibility as I cook, parent and just live in an environment so different that what I'm use to.  Quite often we have the opportunity to experience culture through adventures outside the home.  Here is one of our recent adventures
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Boats along the sore at the Fishermen's Festival

Aboard the boat.  One of our friends far left with her brother-in-law far right holding the camera. 

One Sunday morning we were invited to join friends at a local Fishermen's Festival.  Once a year the fishermen originally from this area all gather to celebrate their yield. These men may travel far in their own boats, to fish, even to one of the major neighboring islands (at least an hour plane ride away).  But they return for this event.  Together with friends we boarded an anchored family member's boat and as with most events, where offered a meal.  Afterwards we returned to their house, where we were offered more food and sat around chatting for a couple hours.  Then we proceeded to another family member's house for more food; grilled fish.  That day I had run out of ideas to motivate Caedmon to smile for a picture taken by someone else so I resorted to giving him coins, each worth about 5 cents.  He counted 42 pictures by the time the day was done = about $2. 

The spread on the boat.  Wrapped rice, fish, chicken, salsa, boiled eggs, fruit soup, and bottled water. 

Back at the house we ate soup and tried to decline the rest. 




Cleaning and prepping the fish at the second house.

Coconut husks are used for the fire. 

Fish is laid on top of strips of bamboo.





Banana leaves are placed on top as the fish cooks. 



Grilling fish  



 

The Market

Here in the city of Barat there are multiple mini-marts.  There are two national chain type mini-marts and various mom & pop types.  We frequent these for items such as powdered milk, oats (though I have yet to find whole oats here or in the big city), candy, and spaghetti!

We saw this and thought, "Ok, we can live here."

Notice the Snickers, Kit-Kats, and M&Ms.  We were amazed, these are big treats for us, not found everywhere!

 The traditional market on the other hand is the place for all fresh produce.  Just about everything else can be found there as well.  It can be a difficult place to walk around as it is crowded, occasionally muddy, and the 'aisles' are very narrow.  Regardless it is the one crowded public place that I thoroughly enjoy visiting, even with the boys who always have to put up with constant cheek pinching and comments such as, "oh you are so handsome."  

All for $17, from top left: 2 bunches of bananas, 1/2 kg raisins, 1 kg green beans, 2 baking powders, 2 cinnamon pkts, 1 nutmeg, 3 ears of corn, large bunch of green onions and celery leaf, 2 bunches yard long beans, 5 carrots, 1/2 kg potatoes, and 1kg red beans.  Also included but not pictured one whole chicken (killed, feathered, and cut up while we shopped) and a packet of turmeric. 

fruits and vegies are priced by weight

Vegies and eggs, not refrigerated.  The blue ones are duck eggs.

From top left: packages of coconut milk, palm sugar wrapped in leaves, red and white rice, corn, and black rice. 

Left bottom is packaged margarine.  I have not found real butter here.  As far as I know there isn't a word in the language to distinguish butter from margarine either. 

The fish section.  Fish is the most common form of 'meat.'  It is much cheaper than chicken, which runs about $5 per animal. 

The sellers and fish all just sit out until sold or the market closes about 3 or 4pm

The various types of fish are just overwhelming to me.  I hardly know how to cook fish much less pick one out to buy. 

Fish sliced open and laid out to dry in the sun.  This is one way people far from the sea can eat fish.  But it is also a common way to eat fish when fresh fish is available. 

Various treats made locally.  These are often bought as souvenirs for friends and family, like when we return to the big city. 

Various tools with hand made wooden handles.

Packages of tamarind in the two bowls. 

Regular household items.  Bowls and buckets for cleaning and washing.  Baskets and containers towards the top for storing and carrying. 

 

Excited for the Seahawks!!!

Thanks to technology we are able to do things so many people living overseas long ago never were able to do.  Because of the internet we are able to correspond with friends and family immediately via email or skype.  For a price we can even talk on the phone!  Today we were thankful to be able to watch the Super Bowl live!  Being away from our home culture and adjusting to a completely different one often makes me, Erin, more appreciative of aspects of our own culture.  I always enjoy a Super Bowl party, but today as just the four of us watched it was still special – a connection to our home culture. 

Our party wasn’t just smaller.  It is Monday morning here.  I arranged Caedmon’s school lessons around the game (before and during half time), John watched most of the game in his pajama’s, and I sipped coffee and ate breakfast!  Not the Super Bowl traditions we grew up with, but what a blessing to be able to still take part in an aspect of our own culture while so far away.  AND the Seahawks won!!!  Wow, what a morning to start our day!

Brick Making

Aside from three planned language sessions per week, I, Erin, try to get out each day to experience an aspect of daily life in our community.  Most days the boys and I walk down the street to a small stand where a neighbor lady sells fried bananas and fried cassava.  Women will often gather here to chat  providing a great opportunity for language and culture learning.  Plus the boys usually enjoy a fried banana or two. 


The 'fried banana seller' and I at her road side stand. 



The wood 'stove' and frying pan she uses.

Last week I joined another neighbor in her usual afternoon work.  She cleans the house we are staying at in the mornings then proceeds to her mother-in-law’s house to make bricks in the afternoon.  In the states I always just assumed brick making was an automated process.  Here it is not.  People work and live on land owned by another, then share in the profits.  Caedmon and Whitman joined me for a three hour adventure in brick making.  The boys mostly just played with other kids who live in the area while I did a lot of watching. Near the end of our time Caedmon decided to try it.  He thoroughly enjoyed the work and did not want to stop.  I too made a couple bricks.  The process itself isn't hard, but I am very slow.  The two women took about 2 1/2 hours to make hundred of bricks. 

The very spacious area of brick makers.  There are more than 20 shelters such as these, all used to dry and fire the bricks.  Middle right there are some pits where they dig out the mud used.

Our neighbor on the left, her son on the bottom and her mother-in-law on the right.

Walls of bricks already dried but waiting to be fired surround them.  All of this is under the large shelters.

Whitman in front of a shelter.  The walls again are dried bricks waiting to be fired. 



Caedmon making bricks as the other children help and play.

He didn't want to stop, but I got the sense the ladies just wanted to finish as there where only 2 piles of mud left, out of 6.

After the shelters are full and the bricks are dry, 7-10 truck loads of firewood are brought in.  The wood is piled in the middle of the shelters.  A fire is kept burning for at least 3 nights to 'fire' all the bricks.  These bricks are then taken away by the truck load and used in all types of building.

A house being built behind ours.  We like to watch the progress from our back balcony. 

New Friends, Coffee, and a Wedding

On Friday we were invited to eat dinner with a co-worker of one of our tutors.  The co-worker is a mother of 7.  Three of her children are married and all but one still live at home.  We ate traditional food and made many new friends.  The family themselves own a boat and took us straight to the beach after dinner, inviting us on board for a quick boat ride.  Apparently this was an invitation for Caedmon and Whitman only, but my mother hen instincts kicked in and I immediately followed them into the water.  Everyone on shore (and we had quite the following) was yelling to be careful where I stepped so as to watch out for sharp objects.  This was only after they had told me to take off my sandals on the shore. 

Both the mother and John joined us, which was very fortunate as they both insisted we should not leave the small inlet.  The waves during the evening are quite large.  Thanks to her and John's persistence we didn't leave the inlet!

The eldest daughter, Caedmon, our tutor, and Whitman at dinner.

The mother of the family in the middle.

Dinner: from the left, tortilla like things made of cassava flour and coconut, grilled fish with spicy sauce, fried bananas which we dipped in palm sugar (mmmm), and tuna cooked in a broth.

 

At the beach, first just looking at the boats.  Notice our following behind us, they mostly just watched us without much talking.

One of the daughters is currently pregnant.  It is a common belief that having a westerner rub your pregnant belly might give your baby our white skin and big noses, which are highly desirable!

The next day, Saturday, I, Erin, was invited to join the mother to roast coffee.  As I had never done this before and I thoroughly enjoy drinking coffee, I was quick to accept. 

They all said fire roasted coffee tastes much better.  So using a traditional clay burner, they lit the fire and placed a traditional clay pot on top

The raw coffee beans, bought at the market, where then washed.  The mother on the left and her oldest child on the far right. 

The beans where then added to the pot.

We stirred and stirred, maybe for 20minutes or so.  This all took place behind their house, somewhat under the neighbor's house (most houses there are stilt houses).

When they all appeared roasted, one bean was broken open to check that the inside was dark as well.  They said you want brown, not black.

While we roasted the bean I was served a traditional dessert, 'green banana.'  It is a banana wrapped in a thick crepe like thing, then served in sweet flavored syrup with ice. 

Finished and cooling.

Then we used a very large mortar and pestle to grind the coffee.  This took awhile and a great deal of arm endurance.

They where going for 'very fine.'

That evening they invited us to a pre-wedding event at the groom's house.  I unsuccessfully tried to decline.  After the boys where in bed the family showed up at our house to pick us up.  John thankfully was willing to attend alone.   

At the groom's house family and friends gather to eat and drink tea or coffee.  Traditional drums are played as well.

After many attempts, they finally succeeded in getting John to join in on the drumming. 

The following day, Sunday, we all attended the wedding.  The event begins at the groom's house, with a meal.  This usually is attended by the groom's family and friends.  The bride does not take part. 


Groom's house with drummers on the balcony. 

The groom and his mother.

Then all the guests and family caravan to the bride's house for the actual wedding.  This was about a 30 minute drive.

We parked about 200 yards from the house and walked the rest of the way.  The family carries all the gifts the groom's family gives to the couple to be.  This included fabric, a wardrobe, pots and pans, and clothing. 

The bride's house.  Close friends and family (of which we were included) go inside. 

The marriage ceremony, between the groom and bride's father. 

The bride and groom.  The bride waits in her room until the ceremony is finished, then is greeted by her now husband and brought out as his wife. 

Cooking outside for all the guests.