Wordy Wednesday

So for me it's no longer Wednesday, but for everyone in time zones west of me it is, so I'm calling this post wordy wednesday just because!  If you're looking for pictures, you can head over to Jason's blog to see some great pics of his trip to Hanover.

When we moved into our new apartment I noticed there was a Kebab House (Kebap Haus) less than 50 meters from here, and I realized we would quickly become friends on those days when I didn't want to cook lunch.  And we have.  It's run by a Turkish couple and I generally hear at least three languages spoken there when I go (English, Turkish, and German).  It's a small place, with only three tables, though they are quite large.  The proprietors (I'll refer to them as Mr. and Mrs. Kebap from here) speak very little English, but we generally manage to communicate.  The first time I was there, Mr. Kebap noticed I was taking a long time trying to decide what I wanted (give me a break, you know I can't handle choices and there was a HUGE menu... all in a language I don't speak), but he also noticed that I was mainly looking at the kebap side of the menu (as opposed to pizza or pasta).  So, he went to work making me a nice big kebap, but first sat me down at one of the tables and poured me a nice glass of hot black tea).  He tried speaking to me, and I eventually figured out he was asking me where I was from (He said England, then The Beatles, and I said No, America.  He said "America!  Obama!  And then started singing/humming America the Beautiful!).  Eventually my kebap was made, my tea gone, and I went home to enjoy my first kebap!

I go there about once a week for lunch now (I try to be reasonable and actually think about the last time I ate their so I don't get in too big a rut).  Mr. Kebap recognizes me when I'm walking down the street now, and Mrs. Kebap now does too.  He's always friendlier when Mrs. Kebap isn't there (that's when I get a free cup of tea), but she speaks more English than he does and is always nice to me.  Recently, for the first time ever, there were people in line in front of me at the Kebap Haus and Mr. Kebap was by himself with no help.  He politely waved me to his table (the smallest of the three, where he is always sitting when there is no one in the shop) and told me it would be five minutes.  A few minutes later he came over and offered me a nice glass of hot tea, which I gladly accepted.  When he brought the tea back, he had to move his crossword puzzle and cigarette, which he promptly offered me (kind yes, but YUCK!).  When I went up to the counter to choose my sauce, he started talking to me about whiskey schnapps (huh?).  Right after I paid, instead of saying enjoy or guten appetit, he said secundo and went into the back.  He came back with a shot of whiskey schnapps and told me it was to be drunk before enjoying a meal.  Well, I was surprised (though at the Greek restaurant here they automatically serve you a shot of ouzo when you sit down), but not completely taken aback.  It had a nice pleasant taste (not too heavy on the whiskey taste).  After the shot, he handed me a black olive as a chaser.  When I went back today, I didn't get a shot of whiskey schnapps, but I do like that I never no what to expect when I go in. :)