Tag 148 - Easter

Yesterday I was struck by a diarrhea attack again. I couldn't stay awake past 8 p.m. to write my daily sermon.

Easter is like Christmas here - by our standards, you hardly notice it. There is no Easter Bunny, not even the one from Lindt in gold foil with a red bell collar. Not a single colored egg, no Easter nest, and certainly no Easter egg hunt. There are also no gifts exchanged. It's all an invention of the chocolate and toy industry. Here, Easter is reduced to purely religious rituals.

As I said before, Good Friday is the highest holiday, with some celebrations starting on Maundy Thursday and some buses not running anymore and some shops closed. Easter Monday is a regular working day. There are plenty of processions throughout the Easter week, with a crucified statue of Christ being carried through the streets, some as early as 6 a.m., accompanied by dramatic brass music. Easter is associated with suffering, after all.

The night before last, I was supposed to go dancing for once. Onan, a young friend of the family, wanted to organize it, but he didn't show up at all. The two girls from the family who were also supposed to go didn't say anything about it, probably normal here.

This time, it was supposed to work out for real. Onan stood in front of the house punctually for local standards, after sending me some cryptic WhatsApp messages, some of which were about money. His spelling is so abysmal that sometimes the meaning gets lost. To make a long story short: I got an incredible story about non-functioning bank cards and unfortunate coincidences. Maybe he could pay for the entrance fee (and his girlfriend who came along), but for their drinks... he would give it to me tomorrow... It was clear: I wouldn't see that money again. Goodbye, Onan, and have a nice evening.

I laugh about it today, even though it leaves a slightly bitter aftertaste when a friend of the family wants to rip off their paying guests.