Comfortable at Ayan
Helen Judd
Saturday, September 8, 2007
WHENEVER I get to Emporia, now I eat at the Somali restaurant, Ayan, on East 12th Avenue.
A friend in Emporia knows I like trying food of different cultures and told me about Ayan, so my daughter and I went last fall.
I really like the samosas, rice, spaghetti, chicken and goat meat. The little bowl of sauce served on the side is outstanding — not hot, but very flavorful. The menu in English says “vegetable,” which turns out to be a salad: crisp clean lettuce, fresh tomatoes, sweet onion slivers with fresh lime slices on the side and store-bought, salad dressing (ranch style). Dessert is a banana (skin on).
I have eaten there about a dozen times and so far am the only lady I have seen sit down and eat, but a few ladies come get “carry out.” When ladies are cooking, we smile at each other as I go to the front counter to pay my bill.
I have never been afraid for a second.
I do not know about the stabbing (on Aug. 25, police say one Somali stabbed another), but that certainly is not “foreign” in this country.
I hope those young people who are taking jobs that may be hard to fill are given a chance to make friends in our country, which has always been a place of opportunity for refugees — until lately.
My daughter works with refugees and finds them hard-working and eager to learn. One, a blind Somali girl refugee, now living in Portland, Ore., has just gotten her GED and plans to go to a community college this fall. She wants to learn how to teach blind children and return to her family who have been living in a Somali refugee camp in Kenya for seven years.
Helen Judd
Council Grove
citizenT (anonymous) says...
Good for you! I am sick to death of the ongoing racist comments and attitudes about people of other cultures in Emporia. We went through the same bunch of rumors and opposition when the Hispanics began coming here several years ago. It is nice to see something positive for a change. THANK YOU for the breath of positive, fresh air!
September 8, 2007 at 1:23 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
netloafer (anonymous) says...
CitizenT
Thanks, and thanks also to helen Judd. It's about time that the loud and strident are being drowned out by good sense and good will.
September 8, 2007 at 8:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Kelonia (anonymous) says...
I agree with everyone else. It is so nice to hear something positive about the Somalians.
I have not been to eat there, but I haven't had any complaints about them myself (no more than any other group of people LOL).
I sure hear an awful lot of bad stuff, but have only once seen anything for myself: a somalian pulled out in front of me. One time. I work close to the post office so I am pretty familiar with the area and am there frequently. Have yet to see them do any bad driving that anyone else doesn't do. (Yeah, we all make stupid mistakes when driving once in a while)
Sometimes the men seem rude, but I don't know if that is because they are or because they are preoccupied. They aren't any ruder than any other person I've seen. The women are friendly....seem a bit shy actually.
Sorry to go on and on. Seems you have opened a floodgate with your article :-)
September 8, 2007 at 11:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mythoughts (anonymous) says...
Those samosas are absolutely delicious - yum, yum, yum. And that side sauce is fantastic. I'm so glad to hear others enjoy Ayan as much as I do. If you can get over your fear (that was really hard for me!) and get over your prejudice, you could have a really great meal there.
September 10, 2007 at 6:39 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
brad_3178 (anonymous) says...
golly good for you guys!!!this really excites me.im thinkin maybe for lunch!!!!
September 13, 2007 at 1:50 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
create (anonymous) says...
brad LOL
September 13, 2007 at 7:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )