N19 The way we Live

Western people usually likes small family, whereas the Asian including us like to live with a big family. I know one Australian family where a mother had many children (about 9 or 10), but even if the mother is about 80 she did not live with any of her children. She lived alone until she died.

In our Taunggyi compound there are 4 houses and in these houses there are 6 families. Except for siblings who have gone and settled in other places the families live together. So in these 4 houses there are about 40 people and all are inter-related with each other.

Because we settled in Yangon when we come home for a few months in summer we are just guests. During our stay at least once we cook a kind of food like Shan khaukswe, tofu nway, marlar fish etc and invite all the people in the compound and 2 more household who live outside but nearby to come and eat. At such times all the other houses are mee kho take (no smoke arises because there is no cooking) except the house that is the host.

At such times our kitchen is full of women who share the work of preparing food and cooking. Some elders who cannot do much also come and join the talking which sometimes leads to gossiping, but I believe no one means any harm to anyone. It is just to pass the time and so does not notice the manual work.

This way the food is cooked and when it is eating time we gather and eat in and around the house. Most of the foods are delicious because they are cooked by women who usually cook big meals at the monasteries.

Another time another house will give a treat in turn and so we gather at another house. Pots and pans, plates and bowls, and even spoons and knives are borrowed from these houses and after eating the owners themselves come and look for their things and take them back.

It is a kind of giving or Dana in Pali. It is a meritorious deed, meritorious for the people who foot the expense. And also for the people who do the manual work of preparing the food and also who just come to eat. Because even if you want to do alms giving and there is no one to give to, your Dana will not be accomplished. So it is meritorious for all of us who give money, who give service and who come to enjoy. Beside this it is a good thing because we all have a happy time.

N18 A cuppa of Tea

When I say a cuppa of tea I don’t mean English tea, or Japanese or Chinese tea. I mean only our Shan tea.

Shan tea is a kind of green tea. It is not complicated and sophisticated and doesn’t have special ways and means in making and drinking it.

Shan tea is produced mainly in the mountainous region of Namhsan, Northern Shan States, and also in some parts of Southern Shan States. Tea growing methods in the Southern Shan State is not very advanced, but still like many years ago. The shrubs do not form long rows as we sometimes see on TV in countries like Sri Lanka or China. The tea trees here are grown separately, but they are not let to grow into tall trees but only to the height of our chest.

When the winter is over there appears at the top of the twigs small tender clusters of leaves. These are picked laboriously one by one. After that the leaves are left in the sun for some time, or roasted in big cauldrons to make them wither. Then they are kneaded by hand till they become a little wet. After that they are left to dry in the sun. When they become dried the leaves are ready to be made into drinks.

In Myanmar a small amount of tea leaves is put in a teapot and hot water is poured over. After a few minutes the tea is ready to drink. But the Shans usually roasted the dry leaves before making tea. This way makes the tea more fragrant and tasty.

The Shan people drink tea many times a day. So to make it convenient, some people keep readymade tea in flask and drink from it all day long. When there is no hot tea left they put more tea leaves and then more hot water into the flask. But I think tea made in this way is less tasty.

When there are visitors the Shan people usually entertain them with a pot of tea. They would sit on a bamboo mat with the tea tray in the middle and talk. No invitation is needed to go and visit people’s houses. We can come and go according to our wishes.

Thus there are not much formalities in the Shan people’s social relationship but it is just a simple and cordial one.

N 13 Noise Pollution

I read an article in a journal today. The author wrote about his friend who is not like other people. He wants to say that he is strange or unique.

The writer said that his friend never go to wedding ceremonies. So when they are invited, he has to take the presents for his friend. The reason for his friend not going to weddings is that they usually have music bands at the weddings and play and sing so loud that people cannot talk to each other and their ears are also troubled by the noise.

 It is true, and I have to agree to that person. People who live in a big city have their own busy lives. They can not meet friends often, but only when there is thar-yay or nar–yay. Thar–yay is when people celebrate happy occasions like weddings and birthday parties and ceremonies relating to religion. Nar–yay is an unpleasant occasion such as a funeral or a visit to a hospital.

So when they are invited to a wedding ceremony which can not be avoided, they will meet with common friends. If they sit at the same table they will want to enquire about each other’s health, talk about old times, about friends etc.

But with the loud singing and playing of musical instruments it is not possible to do so. So we have to wait for the short interval between songs. If the songs are nice and pleasant like the oldies we can still stand them but songs and music of these days……

Young people will say that it is because I am an old woman, but I agree fully to the attitude of that person, but I also think there are many people like us who do not want to be drowned by noise pollution.

So whatever we may be called like ‘strange‘ or ‘unique’ we will have to accept it.

(To……Thet Htar )