This past weekend I was honored to be in invited to a Maha Thingyan- or Burmese New Year (aka "Water Festival") celebration. One of my favorite people on the planet invited me to his home where he held the celebration/service.
He is a Buddhist Monk and a former student of mine in ESL. Although I'm not Buddhist, and don't speak his language, I can honestly say I've learned so much from him. He radiates peace, contentment and joy. And he's hysterical too!
So, he called me (he knows a little English!) and invited me to come to this special event that he was giving at his home. I looked forward to it all week! I felt honored to be included in such a meaningful, religious celebration as an "outsider" of sorts. A bunch of my current students were there, as well as a few former ones.
I can sincerely tell you that even though this event was so culturally different from anything I'd normally be invited to, I've never felt more comfortable and welcome in someone's home or get-together. These people, who have lived through violence and uprooted their existence to come the U.S., and who live extremely humbly, are the most giving and welcoming people I know.
They have such respect for others. As soon as I arrived they escorted me to the kitchen floor where I was a bit scared to try the traditional food! I eat pretty much anything, but I knew what I was getting into here because I work with the Burmese everyday. And I know this food goes beyond my culinary adventurousness! But out of respect I ate!
Don't even ask what it was! Cause I don't really know! But it involves some dried, smashed fish that includes some very sharp pieces! But I lived! They were so happy to stand around and watch me indulge in their food!
So part of the ceremony is that water is offered symbolically to the elders on their hands as a act of apology for previous wrongs they've committed- or at least that's how it was explained to me! They use banana (?) leaves to do this...
Then there is much chanting, praying, singing, etc. Everyone puts coins in a glass of water and then the leading monk ends up throwing the coins to the crowd for catching. All this water has to do with the welcoming of the monsoon season in Burma after much dryness.
During the celebration people are in and out, and all over the house...everything is so go-with-the-flow and relaxed! Phones are ringing (including the monks! With Jay-Z and Alicia Keys "New York" as the ringer! I kid you not!!) and cameras and video are going...so much fun! So welcoming!
Everyone brings gifts to the monks, including Oreo cookies, donuts, candles, soda! you name it! I brought a photo book of Burma with Buddhist quotes because "my monk" as I tend to call him, loves photography! When I went to put it on the offering pile, he stopped everything and made us have an "in action" photo!! So cute!
It was such an awesome day! I was so happy to get to experience something so different from the norm. And so heartfelt, down-to-earth and sincere. It was amazing!
And he even loved his book!
