Tag: assyrian

Between the Lines: Listening with a Tarof Ear

With a background in anthropology and a family of immigrants, I like to think that I’m pretty good at understanding people. For folks who grew up with tarof we’re going to say things differently than say, plain white people from the Bay Area. But I’ve realized that even though I should be listening with different… Continue reading Between the Lines: Listening with a Tarof Ear

Time savers (& other baked goods)

You have to have time to figure out how to save time. A rockin Saturday night to me means making bereshke (kinda like a pierogi). It’s fried dough stuffed with goodies – potato, ground beef, or jam, they’re super versatile. I’ve found most people (as in peoples) eat some kind of stuffed fried dough thing,… Continue reading Time savers (& other baked goods)

Julia’s house (Assyrian lessons from a 3 yr old)

This is a couple weeks ago. Seana’s in town and we go visit our cousin Natasha and her 3 year old Julia. Natasha has a little bit of work to do so we offer to watch Julia so she can finish (and so we can get on with the drinking and eating). Julia is smart… Continue reading Julia’s house (Assyrian lessons from a 3 yr old)

The Hairiest Ballerina (A Fictional Tale)

There once was a hairy little girl, named Harriet, who wanted more than anything to be a ballerina. She pranced and twirled all day long, swan-diving off furniture pretending to be in a professional production. Her parents could see her enthusiasm and agreed to buy her pink ballet slippers, a little tutu, and lessons.  Hairy… Continue reading The Hairiest Ballerina (A Fictional Tale)

Calorie Bazaar: Quantifying Bites and Negotiating Trades at the Dinner Table

There’s an Assyrian saying about eating in front of someone who’s not eating, “sapee khjboonelah” or “you’re counting my bites.” It’s bad manners to be at the table and be the only one eating, so I guess this is supposed to encourage others to eat too. My mom came over for dinner yesterday and pointed… Continue reading Calorie Bazaar: Quantifying Bites and Negotiating Trades at the Dinner Table

Pinch your butt to ward off jealousy

For as long as I remember whenever I did something good such as do well on a test, my mother has pinched my butt. As a child she would literally pinch my butt, in more recent years she instructs me to pinch my own butt, or as she says in Assyrian, “theesa moocha” which is… Continue reading Pinch your butt to ward off jealousy