Goodbye Uzbekistan

The goodbye party we threw on July 8th turned out very lively. While it was 40 degrees Celsius outside, we had  3 airco’s running full blast inside. Our visitors made up an interesting mixture of Uzbek and European, old and young, speaking  combinations of Russian, French, Italian, Dutch, English and Uzbek. Many present made new acquaintances.  I was happy to donate most of our surplus clothes, shoes, kitchen utensils, plants, books, foto’s and wall decorations, so everyone was happy.  

We had far too much food. Partly due to the fact that I had made some substabtial salads and bought more than enough guiches at the local ‘boulangerie’; partly because Axelle and I had prepared samsa the day before, guided by our very experienced friend Lily, who baked off the remainder kilo at her own house. Then, many brought good food with them like 2 trays of pizza, melons, sweets, desert, and..... traditional Pilav, which is a very ‘heavy’ dish. I wanted to put out everything on the buffet table, but my Uzbek women-friends, helping out in the kitchen, decided that we eat first al the other things, as entrees, and only towards the end of the party, around 21:00, the Pilav, as that is the custom. The mouthwatering deserts and fruits were, but  only just, allowed to be eaten after that.

The latter is why I like to share a traditional story about this Uzbek custom here.

“ Once upon a time, an Uzbek man visited a man in Kazachstan. Imagine, he had travelled a long way crossing the desert before arriving there. Naturally, he was welcomed with a good meal; the Kazach slaughtered a precious camel and gave his guest the best. After a few days the Kazach slaughtered a goat to feed his guest properly. And after that he slaughtered a sheep. But somehow the Uzbek guest didn’t seem willing to leave, the food was good and he enjoyed the company.

Now the Kazach became worried, as he didn’t have many more animals and it would cost him dearly to feed his guest any longer. He was quite at a loss what to do, so he consulted a wise old man.

“Is that all?” The wise man asked.  Here’s the solution: after you’ve given your guest his meal, you must serve him pilav, just do as I say and you will see.  

The Kazach did as he was told. When the Uzbek got his pilav he seemed to be pleased, he really enjoyed this traditional dish, and after he had finished and cleaned the grease from his lips and face, lo and behold, he happily announced that now he was ready to go home. He thanked his host extensively for all the good food and invited him to his house in Uzbekistan whenever he liked.”  

So what have  we learnt? It is not polite to leave before you’ve had the Pilav!

And when Pilav is being served this is the sign that you are supposed to leave.