Kusuma's Family

First 'Eid with a new family. A very different experience, indeed. And of course, we were just married 4 months ago; still freshly newlyweds, that's who we are. For my wife, this is very, very different. It's her first time having a Lebaran day away from home. And her first is very, very far. Far, of course, when you have to travel thousands of miles and hours just to get here, which makes "mudik" an impossible thing.

Lebaran is a celebration after the Ramadan. While it is mostly referred as 'Eid in most other muslim communities, Lebaran is especially Indonesian. Mudik is another especially Indonesian term; a term referring to going to "udik" or going to where we come from. Simply put, it's a "going home" celebration. A time when we meet our families, friends, and neighbors.

And while we do not go "home" like most do, we try our best to make this Lebaran as memorable, and similar as the one we have at home. We made cookies and other cookings with some "lebaran values" in it. A good jar of kastengel (a must!!!), putri salju, kacang bawang, and a good tape (Indonesian fermented rice, a kind of Indonesian rice wine),,, drunk,, drunk,,drunk!!! My wife's Opor Ayam (another must in a Lebaran) was incredible!! A good portion of sambal goreng ati ampela, and Rendang almost completed the day. A good ketupat would, of course, have made our day complete, but unfortunately, we didn't have our way. The ketupat shell was disintegrated, leaving the ketupat outside...aaaa...a mess.

Yet, it was a memorable one. A lovely lebaran for us. One thing I realize is the value of family. It is when you love your family that your heart feels that it belongs. Selamat Lebaran dunia!!!!!

Happy Lebaran Day, everyone!!!!

Posted in: on Monday, October 6, 2008 at at 12:13 AM