My phone rang very early on Sunday morning from an unknown number. When I answered, I heard a girl's voice say, "Hello Kerri! Do you know who this is?" Oh great...I got out of bed for this? "It's Sokun-thea." I replied, "Oh, hi, Sokun-thea! How are you?" I still had no idea who she was but figured we must have been introduced at one time and she now considers us good friends. It's so hard being famous sometimes.
She invited me to go to the opening ceremony at a new pagoda. I was tired from all the wedding events, doing laundry, and scrubbing my bathroom floor by hand, on my knees, with a bristled scrubber, but it's hard to say no. I always figure that I should accept any new experience that is offered to me.
I asked if I should wear a white shirt which is the customary attire for a religious ceremony. She said, "Oh yes, of course." Then, she told me to bring eight 100 riel notes (about 20 cents in American money) which I would distribute at the pagoda.
We arranged to meet at Thida's house. When I arrived, Thida asked if I brought the money. I said yes. She a inquired where I got them, and I told her a store. She looked really dubious, so I pulled out my wallet and showed her my bills.
Thida - "No, Kerri! They have to be new."
Me - "Oh. I didn't know."
Thida - "We exchange them for new ones."
Me - "Does it really matter? They're the same thing."
Thida - "No. We use new because the temple is new, not old."
Me - "Can't I just use these? Are the monks going to be mad?"
Thida - "We exchange them."
*End of discussion.
At this point, I still didn't have a clear idea on what was about to transpire. I just follow along and do as I'm told. It's easier than trying to ask too many questions like: "Where are we going next? How long will this take? Why have we been standing here for 20 minutes for no reason?"
We went to Chan-ta's house to gather a few more people. Pisey, my 1st grader, showed me on of their new puppies. Then, we stopped at Ramy Bookstore where we bought some school supplies which we would also gives offerings at the pagoda. I followed Chan-ta around and got what she did: notebook, pen, pencil. She asked, "Where are the rubbers?" I knew she meant erasers and totally wanted to make a joke about how monks don't need them, but restrained myself.
The pagoda was beautiful and looked just like the others around here. Thida explained that they have to build 7 pagodas in each village because that symbolizes prosperity. There are so many rules and rituals when it comes to Buddhism, and they mostly relate to some ancient superstition. I try to follow by example and not make an ass out of myself, but naturally, I usually do.
Thida gave me a bunch of incense sticks that I was supposed to light on this gigantic candle burning in front of the temple. I was trying to hurry because there was a line of people behind me. I ended up charring the sticks, without actually getting them lit, and accidentally dipped them on the candle wax, so they became a sticky mess. Finally, Thida grabbed them out of my hand and did it herself. She said, "Don't you use incense to pray in your country?" I was like, "No man, we sit on a bench, listen to the pastor talk for a while, and then go outside to drink coffee."
We removed our shoes and walked around the pagoda, stopping at eight stations to perform the same ritual. Pray, throw a bill in the hole, put an incense stick in a sand filled pot, sprinkle water on this gravestone-looking thing with a palm frond. Everyone laughed at me while I tenderly walked on the sharp rocks surrounding the pagoda. "Kerri, your feet hurt?" No, I love walking barefoot on gravel.
Notice that no one else wore a white shirt. Just saying...
I asked why there was a big spider web made of cloth strung across the ceiling. Chan-ta said that after the celebration, they cut it into pieces and give it to people to wear on their wrists or hand in their house or place of business. It is supposed to bring good luck.
After all the rituals, we walked behind the pagoda, and I was shocked at the carnival atmosphere. There were food vendors, stalls selling toys, balloons, candy, etc. They even had a rickety ferris wheel and a couple other rides for children. It finally dawned on me why the place was packed. This was not just about the opening of a new temple. This was a giant party. As the evening wore on, it started to get rowdy. Men were drinking beer and playing games like throwing balls at cans in an effort to win a stuffed animal. I bought some fried dough balls with sesame seeds and called it a day.
Soldier - "I can't wait until all these people leave, so I can go home."
Monk 1 - "Tell me about it. I gotta get up at 4:00 am, so I can chant for two hours."
Monk 2 - "Hey, you guys want some fried grasshoppers?"
She invited me to go to the opening ceremony at a new pagoda. I was tired from all the wedding events, doing laundry, and scrubbing my bathroom floor by hand, on my knees, with a bristled scrubber, but it's hard to say no. I always figure that I should accept any new experience that is offered to me.
I asked if I should wear a white shirt which is the customary attire for a religious ceremony. She said, "Oh yes, of course." Then, she told me to bring eight 100 riel notes (about 20 cents in American money) which I would distribute at the pagoda.
We arranged to meet at Thida's house. When I arrived, Thida asked if I brought the money. I said yes. She a inquired where I got them, and I told her a store. She looked really dubious, so I pulled out my wallet and showed her my bills.
Thida - "No, Kerri! They have to be new."
Me - "Oh. I didn't know."
Thida - "We exchange them for new ones."
Me - "Does it really matter? They're the same thing."
Thida - "No. We use new because the temple is new, not old."
Me - "Can't I just use these? Are the monks going to be mad?"
Thida - "We exchange them."
*End of discussion.
At this point, I still didn't have a clear idea on what was about to transpire. I just follow along and do as I'm told. It's easier than trying to ask too many questions like: "Where are we going next? How long will this take? Why have we been standing here for 20 minutes for no reason?"
Thida gave me a bunch of incense sticks that I was supposed to light on this gigantic candle burning in front of the temple. I was trying to hurry because there was a line of people behind me. I ended up charring the sticks, without actually getting them lit, and accidentally dipped them on the candle wax, so they became a sticky mess. Finally, Thida grabbed them out of my hand and did it herself. She said, "Don't you use incense to pray in your country?" I was like, "No man, we sit on a bench, listen to the pastor talk for a while, and then go outside to drink coffee."
We removed our shoes and walked around the pagoda, stopping at eight stations to perform the same ritual. Pray, throw a bill in the hole, put an incense stick in a sand filled pot, sprinkle water on this gravestone-looking thing with a palm frond. Everyone laughed at me while I tenderly walked on the sharp rocks surrounding the pagoda. "Kerri, your feet hurt?" No, I love walking barefoot on gravel.
Monk 1 - "Tell me about it. I gotta get up at 4:00 am, so I can chant for two hours."
Monk 2 - "Hey, you guys want some fried grasshoppers?"
No comments:
Post a Comment