The ? of Ob: Closure

The other day I expressed my difficulties in buying water to my teacher. Apparently, Cola can be considered water. At least that's what Tajiks do. It has something to do with that they call fruit juices "ob meva" so little by little the ob part has gotten a greater significance than the meva part. And then, well, Cola, that's just some Cola fruit with water, so that's water, too, right?

After 3 minutes of argueing I got my teacher to admit that Cola after all didn't have any fruit in it and thus didn't fall into the category of fruit juices that can duely be called ob. This is tricky business! If Cola had like 1 per cent of fruit in it, it could pass as ob!

So I guess that explains pretty much of why I get Cola when I ask for water (some people obviously think that Cola got particles of fruits in it). They also aren't used to people buying water, as it is readily available from the tap and they themselves rarely buy water.

Case closed.

The ? of Ob: Part 2

Going about my usual business, I bought Internet-time for one hour today. But I asked for a bottle of Royal Crown Cola, this time in English. And they gave me a big bottle of water - my usual request.

The ? of Ob

I just returned from Choykhoniyi Rohat, a place where they serve Tajik food and all the waitresses are running around in the state dress, looking all the same.

Tajiks don't have a sense of service, it is very much like in Sweden. That is, you buy one of their services and all you get is a slap in the face instead of a thank you. Of course, not everyone is like that, if you go to an expensive restaurant things are a little bit different.

Anyway, ordering was a hassle. She didn't give me a menu, and I don't know what it is called in Tajik, and even if I knew I'm sure she wouldn't care to bring me one. I asked if they had mantu, which they did so I ordered that and I also said "va ham ob mekhoham" and she nodded approvingly.

The mantus were OK, think of them as over-sized raviolis, but steamboiled..and I think I could discern a pinch of nutmeg in them, too. So when it was time to pay I asked her why she didn't bring me water, as I had requested.

She: But you didn't ask for any water, if you had I would've brought it! *faked tears in her eyes*

Yeah, right.

They just don't understand the word Ob it's like it's not in their vocabulary. I'm beginning to suspect that they don't even drink it themselves. At any rate, I don't think it's something that the regular customer buys, they either go with some soda or just plain without. There has to be some explanation! Today I wanted water at the Internet Cafe, I'm a regular now so they should all know by now that i want:

1. 1 hour of Internet time
2. 1 big bottle of water

But, no..they don't. They gave me that Royal Crown cola again. *sigh*