First (of many) cultural faux pas... yikes!

I was very excited because today I had a lunch date.  One of the English teachers said that “they wanted to take me to lunch.”  She first asked me if I was doing anything on Sunday.  Yeah right.  I’m going to be hanging out with all my friends… in Tata.  So of course I had nothing to do – lunch sounded great.  She said that she would “collect me at noon.”  So – sure enough, at ten to twelve, I was waiting outside for my ride.  At 12:30 I got a phone call that her husband drove to my place and didn’t see any American girls waiting out – so he returned home.  She double checked the address, which I don’t even know –and sent her husband back.  Once the husband came to my place (he was on the wrong block, and let’s be real… one concrete square looks like the rest) I realized that I was in for a trip to Erika’s HOME, not a restaurant with other colleagues.  Well frick.  I’m on my way to her house, and I don’t have a gift.  What the hell Carla.  That is one of the first things they told us.  If you are invited to someone’s house, bring some flowers.  Well, I didn’t know that we were going to her home, so I felt like a dumb idiot.  At any rate, she has three beautiful daughters, who spoke no English – so needless to say it was a bit uncomfortable for them.  They were studying German in school, and had one English lesson a week, so I tried a little German- which didn’t go very far, but whatever. 

 

Erika served a delicious fruit soup- which until this time I had scoffed at when my mother made it, followed by Chicken and potatoes.  It was a delicious lunch with her family.  Afterwards, we retired to the living room and we bonded over their cat, ABBA and  map of the United States.  The girls were not ready to start school the next day (they are 10, 8 and 6 I think) but they were interested in learning more about me so we chatted through their parents.  Erika drove me home and I immediately got one of my books on Minnesota and a card to bring to school the next day as a show of my thanks to her for the hospitality.  What a nice gesture it was to entertain me – I was extremely moved by the entire experience, though I am sure there will be more to come.

 

On Sunday night, I tried to figure out the problem with the internet at my apartment, and I failed – so whatever.  I’ll try again another day.  In the mean time, I can get wireless access at school, so I’ll upload these all at the same time, and maybe some pictures too!!!

 

Hope you enjoyed reading!

 

Carla