Today I returned from a trip to East Asia, my first time in this particular East Asian country. Of the different Asian cities I've visited, this one was probably the most unique, and also the hardest cultural adjustment. The city's population is primarily one specific people group, but a Muslim-background people group with Central Asian roots also calls the city home. Which means you can be on a main city street one minute with views like this:
 |
| The mountains are stunning! |
And then turn down a side street the next and see this:
 |
| Warm bread-so good! |
 |
| Boiling the eggs. |
 |
In my country, fruit is cut into small slices and
placed in bags. Here, you just eat a
slice standing on the street. |
The Muslim population also means views like this:
In my Southeast Asian city we don't use chopsticks that much, but here, it's all they use. The people I was with thought I didn't particularly like meat because I didn't eat much of it during mealtimes. Truth is, I have yet to master the art of chopstick-eating. So even if I wanted to try the meat, sometimes I just couldn't quite manage to get it on my plate:
 |
That's tea in the little bowl. It's a staple at every meal.
But if you ask for water, it will be hot. They don't usually
drink cold water. |
 |
Meals are done family style, meaning the group orders
a bunch of dishes and everyone shares. |
 |
Which then means you have to get the food from the middle
of the table onto your plate, with the chopsticks. I did get
better as the week went on. |
 |
Dinner at a nice restaurant which included a fork
and spoon! Although everyone else, minus
the foreigner, still used the chopsticks. |
 |
| Lamb stew. The potatoes were really good. |
Milk tea is a popular drink. No need for spoons, you just pick the bowl up and sip (or slurp!)
I tried figs for the first time. Actually quite tasty. They flatten and then stack them:
One afternoon we went to an old cemetery. It really seemed like we were in the middle of a desert:
While I was there the city celebrated an important Muslim holiday when every family had to kill a sheep. They would then spend the day cooking the meat and being with family and friends.
The thing is, the sheep killings took place right on the streets. It was everywhere, and they did everything involved with killing and skinning the sheep. After awhile I couldn't look, it was too "graphic." Here are some tame photos:
 |
| Sheep for sale on the street. |
 |
| Man trying to coax his sheep to get up. |
 |
Another ornery sheep. People used wagons, wheelbarrows
and even car trunks to carry their sheep home.
|
As we walked the streets that morning we prayed. So many people believing that the sacrifice of an animal would cover their sins. So many people not really even understanding why they had to kill an animal, just doing it because it's what you do on this holiday.
"But he was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities;
upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed."
"He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth;
like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent,
so he opened not his mouth."
