Mahjong and a Hammock!
Family relaxation!
So this weekend I went over to my cousin. I've been over there a lot more during the last few weeks. The holidays brings that out in people 😉🤗...
But the main reason for the added time together is because my aunt is visiting. She has just turned 80 and I decided I wanted to spend more time with her while she's here.
I'm not gonna sound overly dramatic but given the current world situation, you never know when you're going to see someone again. And also, again not overly dramatic, there is the matter of age.
So this weekend I went over again...
We hung around (literally cause I was in the Hammock) and chatted a bit.
We also got some Chinese take out als my aunt insists I eat there 😃. It like the first or second question I get when walking in 😄.
Yeah I ate in the hammock 😎
I decided to add a challenge to my visits and to teach my aunt, cousin, her husband and their 2 sons the game of Mahjong!
Technically I'm teaching them the game of "Matjok" which is the Surinamese version of this originally Chinese game.
Fun fact: I'm part Chinese...
I'm no expert, I have never kept track of all the fancy combinations and extra payouts (and there are a lot), but i do know the basics.
Now before you ask me what the difference is between Matjok and Mahjong, I'm gonna tell you a secret: I don't know exactly 😂😂😂.
I've been taught Matjok and that's what I've been playing for years now.
The game comes with a warning though, as I've heard the stories of people gambling away their businesses, houses and even wives in the past... Some people do still play for money but I've always just played with fake coins just to know who the winner is...
Matjok takes hours so I've always seen this as a very social thing to do. I mean it really doesn't make sense for you to play with people you don't get along with. Make sure you find a group that's fun and that you can have conversations with.
The stones make a very distinct sounds when you are "washing" (read: a form of shuffling) them.
Fun fact nr 2: My grandparents used to live across from one of the biggest Chinese organizations in Suriname and you would hear this sound all weekend.
I also brought the necessary snacks 😃. I only realized when taking this shot that all of them are Dutch-ish...
Matjok has become somewhat of a favorite past time and I always play when I'm in Suriname. I've just recently got a set and started looking for people that play in Curaçao (no luck yet) . I guess teaching is a workaround 😂.
How was your weekend?