I have not opened it yet but i know some of the content - a herbal 'mate' (pronounced as ma-te) and some photos from my host family in Resistencia, Chaco. I am too excited but i plan to go home and properly open it up later. The package had such a long trip here - almost 2 months - so i gotta give it the proper 'opening ceremony' it deserves. :)
Then i called my host parents this morning and spoke to them. My papa is going for an open heart surgery next Wed (24/9) so he's in Buenos Aires now. They treat me like their very own daughter. I spent one of the best years of my life there with them. Absolutely unforgettable experience - good and bad. My host parents have been staying in a hotel in Buenos Aires for more than 2 months. My spanish is rusty - i know the words but i just need to think for a while before i speak. Find the words properly so our conversation was kinda abrupt. Ha ha... i even managed to insert a Malay word in between. *blush* Anyway, they are such warm and loving people. They always cry when i call (so passionate and open with their feelings) and they make me wanna cry too. Sigh. I miss them so much.
Mate - reminds me of evenings spent with friends, family and neighbours in Argentina. Just sitting in a circle outside the house or anyone's porch.... you see, it's Argentina's national drink (and Paraguay, Uruguay too i believe). Some are soo addicted to it but the whole process is so meaningful. To me, it's like a fellowship or bonding session. I even read it on Wikipedia... friendship drink, they call it. It's perfect with a game of truco (trick). I have what they say a poker face, so i was pretty damn good at the truco card game! Ha...
Imagine this - sitting on the porch of your house or anyone's porch, the host will then fill a special mate copper/steel cup (i will take a pic of my mate set when i get the chance) with herbs (contains caffeine btw) and pours very hot water into it. A metal straw known as bombilla (its a straw cum sieve). The host has to drink at least once or twice to make sure the drink is clear (smooth) to be passed around. And since it's a kinda small mate cup, the host will fill hot water, pass to the next in the circle, the person drinks it up via bombilla and then passes back to the host. So on and so forth.... it's a beautiful tradition. I love it.
How does it taste like? It takes some getting used to. Quite bitter at first and i can almost guarantee you will burn your tongue -- cuz i did, MANY MANY times...
Some people even add sugar to it make it easier to drink but that would kinda lose the whole original experience. In the summer time, cuz its so damn hot you wanna just be naked, we drink it with cold cordial drinks - i think best with orange cordial!! It's an EVERYDAY, ALL DAY thing over there!
When i came back manyyyyyy years ago, i remember bringing back like two big packs of the herbs for mate - but it went stale cuz i could not find a mate partner here. :(
Would YOU be MY mate partner?
6 comments:
sheesh.. I only read the entry because I thought it was something XXX-rated. I was cheated. Dammit.
Btw, you know who this is? muahahahah
Of course i know..... your muahahah at the end gave ur 'anonymous' identity away! Bahh... :p
Don't lie! Tipu kambing only.
I KNOW i KNOW i KNOW....
who m i now?
Blahhh... i knoww YOU!!
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