A Special, Yet Humorous Moment:
I was washing dishes after a cultural event when Kada, our host’s Turkish speaking elderly mother, came up to me. Before I knew it, a large serving spoon of yogurt was coming toward my mouth. I opened it, and she fed me, not one, but three large spoonfuls of unsweetened yogurt. I smiled each time, and tried my best to show my appreciation. All the while thinking, you can do it, smile and swallow. It was such a unique initial interaction. She smiled brightly, clearly very pleased with the moment. I was thankful for it too. It was an expression of love and an invitation to bond. I was also thankful for many other things in the moment. 1) that I was able to stomach 3 spoonfuls of unsweetened yogurt with a smile. 2) That it was only three spoonfuls. 3) That I had tasted unsweetened yogurt before.
My very first encounter with unsweetened yogurt ended with a disgusted face and bits of yogurt on the grass. My uncle and I had taken a short bike ride through Boulder, Colorado when we stopped for a snack. He generously offered me some yogurt with fresh grapes mixed in it. I eagerly accepted, fully anticipating rich sugar-filled yogurt with grapes. Instead, my mouth was met with something horrible, the sour cream like flavor was a shock, and before I knew it my body rejected it. Of course, my uncle was gracious and gently explained his healthy snack. Thanks for opening my eyes and preparing my taste buds for unsweetened yogurt, Uncle Hartmut! You helped prepare me for this moment.
After the yogurt tastes, I continued washing dishes. Before I knew it, Kada was reaching her hands around my torso to wrap an apron around me. She gently moved my hair to the side before tying it up. I thanked her and smiled, she responded with a bright smile and a Turkish phrase of which I did not understand. She then proceeded to rinse the dishes I washed. We spent the afternoon working together, intermittently smiling and communicating primarily through gestures and animated faces. It was fun, and something that I will never forget.
