19. September, 2004
some stories from Erika:
Megan's student, Aigul, is going to the hospital. She's had a very bad sore throat. Megan was surprised to see that she had black marks all over her neck. When Megan asked what had happened, Aigul said that she'd been treated for her sore throat by rubbing a cazan over her neck. A cazan is the standard heavy metal cooking pot.
At Caroline's house- the host mother adds a tablet of aspirin to each jar of winter salad before sealing it to prevent botchulism and kill bacteria. Right.
At Loren's house- Loren's host mother told her that you shouldn't listen to doctors because they "eat shit and don't know shit." This is a direct quote. Also, you shouldn't let anyone take out your wisdom teeth because you will become stupid.
At Megan's house- Megan's host mother asked her for some antibiotics. Megan asked why she needed antibiotics, and Gulnara said it was for her dry and cracked feet. Her feet are dry and cracked because she stands in the dirt twice every day to do "abolution," a ceremony involving dumping a bucket of cold water over one's head. She has to do this standing in the dirt because she needs to make contact with the ground or risk having energy flow problems.
At my house- I asked Melice when he is getting married. He said soon. He is a little put out that my host family forbade him to kidnap his wife. He said to me, "all my classmates stole their wives, and I'm the only one who has to ask." He doesn't seem to think this is fair. He went to his chosen one's house twice this week to talk to her. They might marry at the end of the month.
some stories from Erika:
Megan's student, Aigul, is going to the hospital. She's had a very bad sore throat. Megan was surprised to see that she had black marks all over her neck. When Megan asked what had happened, Aigul said that she'd been treated for her sore throat by rubbing a cazan over her neck. A cazan is the standard heavy metal cooking pot.
At Caroline's house- the host mother adds a tablet of aspirin to each jar of winter salad before sealing it to prevent botchulism and kill bacteria. Right.
At Loren's house- Loren's host mother told her that you shouldn't listen to doctors because they "eat shit and don't know shit." This is a direct quote. Also, you shouldn't let anyone take out your wisdom teeth because you will become stupid.
At Megan's house- Megan's host mother asked her for some antibiotics. Megan asked why she needed antibiotics, and Gulnara said it was for her dry and cracked feet. Her feet are dry and cracked because she stands in the dirt twice every day to do "abolution," a ceremony involving dumping a bucket of cold water over one's head. She has to do this standing in the dirt because she needs to make contact with the ground or risk having energy flow problems.
At my house- I asked Melice when he is getting married. He said soon. He is a little put out that my host family forbade him to kidnap his wife. He said to me, "all my classmates stole their wives, and I'm the only one who has to ask." He doesn't seem to think this is fair. He went to his chosen one's house twice this week to talk to her. They might marry at the end of the month.
Erika sent me these links about bride kidnapping a while ago, and I neglected to post them until now:
Dedicated to Understanding Ala Kachuu
and Preventing Non-Consensual Marriage
from that page, you can go to different pages, such as "Benign Custom Or Savage Tradition?", Bride Kidnapping: What Makes Women Stay, or read about the actual laws concerning marriage and violence against women.
Susan
Dedicated to Understanding Ala Kachuu
and Preventing Non-Consensual Marriage
from that page, you can go to different pages, such as "Benign Custom Or Savage Tradition?", Bride Kidnapping: What Makes Women Stay, or read about the actual laws concerning marriage and violence against women.
Susan
