Each family holds traditions that are unique to them. Growing up, anyone who came to visit my parent's home knew we would have a fresh pitcher of ice cold sweet tea. When offering drinks we always said, "Would you like a glass of tea?"
My husband and I have one thing in common: we both love tea. Problem: He likes chai (hot tea with milk) and I like ice cold tea with plenty of sugar and a little lemon. He has NEVER tried sweet tea.
Today I was so excited about hosting Kenyan Fellowship. I was told in advance that tea would be expected. I keep a bag of Kenyan tea in the cabinet above my stove, right next to the sugar so I was well prepared. While I know how to make tea, I refuse to make it and do it wrong when several Kenyan families are coming into my home- better they prepare it.
My dear friend who happens to be from my husband's Luo tribe agreed to prepare tea for me. Unfortunately she assumed when I said I had all I needed, I knew what all was needed to make Chai.
As we were gathering to serve our plates, one of my Kenyan sisters said, "Where's the tea?" I pointed to the sweet tea that was on the table and knew by her expression she was really wanting Chai. So I explained that I had a pot and could have someone put on tea for her. When my friend came to prepare the tea she asked for he milk. It donned on me that my lactaid would not be good enough for Chai. So several of my Kenyan sisters started to scramble around, "You can't have a fellowship without tea."
Its a blessing that I live so close to Walmart because the ladies sent two to pick a gallon of milk for the tea. I began pulling out pots that could be used to make the tea. Every pot I pulled was "way too small. Do you have bigger?" I finally remembered the stock pot I had in the very back of my cabinet that I thought I'd never use. This one was just right.
The milk had arrived and the tea was coming to a boil. "Sondra, help me with your sift." Oh no. I don't own a sifter. So I'm then asked to bring a needle to poke holes through a cup to act as a sifter. Oh no I don't have needles. So then a thumb tack was found to make the sifter. One of the mamas comes over and announces that the cup will just not work. "Sondra, help us with a clean cloth." I had just bought a Thanksgiving towel on sale and within 3 minutes it was being used to sift the tea grinds.
I learned a great lesson tonight: I am not Kenyan!
My husband and I have one thing in common: we both love tea. Problem: He likes chai (hot tea with milk) and I like ice cold tea with plenty of sugar and a little lemon. He has NEVER tried sweet tea.
Today I was so excited about hosting Kenyan Fellowship. I was told in advance that tea would be expected. I keep a bag of Kenyan tea in the cabinet above my stove, right next to the sugar so I was well prepared. While I know how to make tea, I refuse to make it and do it wrong when several Kenyan families are coming into my home- better they prepare it.
My dear friend who happens to be from my husband's Luo tribe agreed to prepare tea for me. Unfortunately she assumed when I said I had all I needed, I knew what all was needed to make Chai.
As we were gathering to serve our plates, one of my Kenyan sisters said, "Where's the tea?" I pointed to the sweet tea that was on the table and knew by her expression she was really wanting Chai. So I explained that I had a pot and could have someone put on tea for her. When my friend came to prepare the tea she asked for he milk. It donned on me that my lactaid would not be good enough for Chai. So several of my Kenyan sisters started to scramble around, "You can't have a fellowship without tea."
Its a blessing that I live so close to Walmart because the ladies sent two to pick a gallon of milk for the tea. I began pulling out pots that could be used to make the tea. Every pot I pulled was "way too small. Do you have bigger?" I finally remembered the stock pot I had in the very back of my cabinet that I thought I'd never use. This one was just right.
The milk had arrived and the tea was coming to a boil. "Sondra, help me with your sift." Oh no. I don't own a sifter. So I'm then asked to bring a needle to poke holes through a cup to act as a sifter. Oh no I don't have needles. So then a thumb tack was found to make the sifter. One of the mamas comes over and announces that the cup will just not work. "Sondra, help us with a clean cloth." I had just bought a Thanksgiving towel on sale and within 3 minutes it was being used to sift the tea grinds.
I learned a great lesson tonight: I am not Kenyan!