My husband's birthday was this week. So on the day of his actual birthday he was surprised when his team asked him to join them for a quick afternoon meeting which I had been secretly invited to attend. Upon entering the room to see what was up I yelled out "Happy Birthday!" He was so thrilled that his team had remembered his day so he personally went around and thanked each person. Everyone greeted him with the usual Indian saying of, "Many returns of the day!" which basically means we hope this day joyful returns over and over again in your life. They had purchased a chocolate cake for the event which we were all sure to enjoy.
He was really savoring the moment as the cake was cut. Everyone was smiling and laughing. He asked the team, "What is the tradition in India regarding birthdays?"
His team just looked at him and each other. One women spoke up for the group and said, "I think it is the same as you do in the US."
Lance just smiled and declared, "Well then everyone grab a slice of cake." Just then the highest ranked person who reports up to Lance steps up and holds up his hand to stop Lance from eating his slice of cake. Lance paused with the slice of cake held high and just then it happened....that birthday tradition thing they said was the same as in the US really wasn't the same anymore.
Lance's male associate proceeded to hand feed the entire piece of cake to Lance. He put each very large shovel sized bite into his mouth using his hands. The whole time this ordeal was going on Lance's face was BRIGHT RED. He was mortified and kept looking around at everyone with a questioning look in his eyes. Several times he looked at me for help but I didn't know what to do as I was dumbfounded (but also trying not to laugh). None of the local people thought anything about it as they watched while cheering and smiling. After finishing his slice of cake Lance mumbled, "Thanks Bala," to the gentleman who had so diligently feed him his large sized treat. (NOTE: Anyone reading this who knows my husband will tell you he is an easy, outgoing guy on the outside but a shy giant on the inside who likes his personal space.) Still I am happy to report he held his head high despite the strange situation and was very respectful to his associates.
The rest of the celebration went off without a hitch. Later Lance would ask his boss, who is from the UK, if hand feeding cake to someone here in India was the normal thing to do. He just laughed and told Lance yes it was a sign of respect.
Of course I could not help myself from teasing him about it. When he came home from work I had another cake waiting for us to enjoy for his birthday. I offered him a huge slice on a plate. He started to eat it with his fork and I asked him, "Oh I see...some other guy gets to hand feed you cake but it's off limits for your wife to do it for you." We both laughed.
In all seriousness he looked directly into my eyes and said, "You can feed it to me if you want to."
I think he might just let this hand feeding thing get to his head here in India! I better keep an eye on him.
He was really savoring the moment as the cake was cut. Everyone was smiling and laughing. He asked the team, "What is the tradition in India regarding birthdays?"
His team just looked at him and each other. One women spoke up for the group and said, "I think it is the same as you do in the US."
Lance just smiled and declared, "Well then everyone grab a slice of cake." Just then the highest ranked person who reports up to Lance steps up and holds up his hand to stop Lance from eating his slice of cake. Lance paused with the slice of cake held high and just then it happened....that birthday tradition thing they said was the same as in the US really wasn't the same anymore.
Lance's male associate proceeded to hand feed the entire piece of cake to Lance. He put each very large shovel sized bite into his mouth using his hands. The whole time this ordeal was going on Lance's face was BRIGHT RED. He was mortified and kept looking around at everyone with a questioning look in his eyes. Several times he looked at me for help but I didn't know what to do as I was dumbfounded (but also trying not to laugh). None of the local people thought anything about it as they watched while cheering and smiling. After finishing his slice of cake Lance mumbled, "Thanks Bala," to the gentleman who had so diligently feed him his large sized treat. (NOTE: Anyone reading this who knows my husband will tell you he is an easy, outgoing guy on the outside but a shy giant on the inside who likes his personal space.) Still I am happy to report he held his head high despite the strange situation and was very respectful to his associates.
The rest of the celebration went off without a hitch. Later Lance would ask his boss, who is from the UK, if hand feeding cake to someone here in India was the normal thing to do. He just laughed and told Lance yes it was a sign of respect.
Of course I could not help myself from teasing him about it. When he came home from work I had another cake waiting for us to enjoy for his birthday. I offered him a huge slice on a plate. He started to eat it with his fork and I asked him, "Oh I see...some other guy gets to hand feed you cake but it's off limits for your wife to do it for you." We both laughed.
In all seriousness he looked directly into my eyes and said, "You can feed it to me if you want to."
I think he might just let this hand feeding thing get to his head here in India! I better keep an eye on him.
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