Saturday was Bella's 12th Birthday party. I have been here for 10 months now so I've attended many birthday parties. However, this was my first birthday party for a child. I wondered how different it would be. Would there be a big cake with candles, or lots of her friends that bring her presents? I had bought her a small pair of earrings earlier in the week in the hopes that she'd like them. The small earrings came in a tiny, heart shaped box which I put into a balloon for her to find. (Louiza found it, big surprise there.) Was that an appropriate gift? What is my role in this? I went into Saturday surprisingly nervous.
What time does the party start? "It starts when it starts." What a frustratingly typical answer…. Around 6ish Christine's sister and one of Carin's sisters came over and we finished the preparations of the house. We set up the fancy dining table, got out the fancy dishes and distributed the shot glasses in preparation of the toasts to come. The sisters set to work making the salads while I was the runner back and forth. I had helped on Friday to make the balinchiks so I was quite proud of being able to serve them.
Balinchiks are steamed meat and onions wrapped up in a flour and egg crepe, then heated up in a pan until they are golden brown. Absolutely delicious! I ate them for the first time in Karashamb and they never last long around me. While I still don't enjoy cooking, I need to know how to make these. My future is bleak without them. (My relationship with Armenian food is strange yet intense).
Christine had made the dress in the photo above so that was a big deal at the party. She has been taking classes at the YWCA so it's awesome to see her creations from what she's learned. Only adults came and none brought presents. They would hug her, give her a peck on the cheek and then break into the homemade wine, which I am really beginning to love. About 20 people came for the feast which included dolma, balinchiks, carrot and beat salad, pickled peppers and cauliflower, homemade peach juice, bread, cheese and olives.
What time does the party start? "It starts when it starts." What a frustratingly typical answer…. Around 6ish Christine's sister and one of Carin's sisters came over and we finished the preparations of the house. We set up the fancy dining table, got out the fancy dishes and distributed the shot glasses in preparation of the toasts to come. The sisters set to work making the salads while I was the runner back and forth. I had helped on Friday to make the balinchiks so I was quite proud of being able to serve them.
Balinchiks are steamed meat and onions wrapped up in a flour and egg crepe, then heated up in a pan until they are golden brown. Absolutely delicious! I ate them for the first time in Karashamb and they never last long around me. While I still don't enjoy cooking, I need to know how to make these. My future is bleak without them. (My relationship with Armenian food is strange yet intense).
Christine had made the dress in the photo above so that was a big deal at the party. She has been taking classes at the YWCA so it's awesome to see her creations from what she's learned. Only adults came and none brought presents. They would hug her, give her a peck on the cheek and then break into the homemade wine, which I am really beginning to love. About 20 people came for the feast which included dolma, balinchiks, carrot and beat salad, pickled peppers and cauliflower, homemade peach juice, bread, cheese and olives.
As we ate, more and more people showed up. Some stayed for just long enough to wish Bella a Happy Birthday and say bariahojak (the Armenian equivalent of bon appitit) to the rest of us. Some stayed and ate. I ate a freakish amount of dolma, salad and balinchicks but it was totally ok, because we were given the opportunity to work it off shortly after with dancing. No party here is complete without dancing.
They have a unique style here of dancing that I haven't quite mastered. In America, the general rule is that the more you move your hands the more stupid you look so all your dancing is done in your hips and legs with occasional arm movements. Here it is the exact opposite- 90% arms, 10% the res of your body. You can see me in the video below attempting the grace but channeling the 'Surfin Safari' dance instead.
They have a unique style here of dancing that I haven't quite mastered. In America, the general rule is that the more you move your hands the more stupid you look so all your dancing is done in your hips and legs with occasional arm movements. Here it is the exact opposite- 90% arms, 10% the res of your body. You can see me in the video below attempting the grace but channeling the 'Surfin Safari' dance instead.
We danced for a few hours and took breaks to eat cake. There was no singing or candles to blow out. The cake came pre cut. Nothing wrong with it at all, just different and a little anticlimactic. Again, no party is complete without dancing. I dance far more here than I ever did back in the states.
Louiza's 7th Birthday is on Friday so we'll get to do this all over again!