Merry Christmas - Feliz Natal.
We sure made the best of it across the pond in Africa my friends. ATE LIKE KINGS! Trust me, we sure don't eat like this the rest of the year here. They put all of our tables in a row and used table cloths and everything. It really was special. The buffet line at the staff house included Turkey and Beef Wellington and green beans wrapped in bacon and cabbage and taters....
Man, they had shrimp and lobster and slaw and poached salmon (oh yeah and 3 kinds of cakes)....MAN, IT WAS AWESOME!!!
Then we sat down for Christmas Eve dinner. There were folks from America, Norway, Scotland, England, Nigeria, Brazil, India, Trinidad and Canada.
All enjoying each others company and the festivities of the season. I had brought some Spiced Apple Cider from America (non alchoholic) for my Egyptian friends for the holiday. The rest of us had wine which is never served with a meal here in the staff house.
Then it was up to the roof for adult Christmas beverages.....
Let's see - this is an American, a Canadian, a Norwegian and a Nigerian saying hello to ya'll......
Christmas Day, we didn't have to go to work, so everyone slept in. About 2, Cecilia started BBQing for us and we had the leftovers from the night before....
Yep, that is an old gas grill that we now use with charchol - you make do with what you have over here ya know.
There were three girls that cooked for us on Christmas - Cecilia, Elizabeth and Alecia. Well Cecilia came up and asked me in Portuguese, "Warren what do you have for Cecilia for Christmas?" YIKES! Un momento por pavor.....
I went down and got 3 shopping bags that were in my closet and put the same in each one - it was all I had. I think there was $20, microwave popcorn, a box of Peanut Butter Crackers, instant soup, ramaan noodles, a package of Propel powder, instant peach tea mix, a box of chewing gum, spiced apple cider mix and 2 pouches of instant hot cocoa each. Like I said, it was all I had - that cleaned me out.
I gave each of them a bag and in return, Cecilia gave me a half used cigarette lighter that flashes lights when you light it.
It was all they had. It meant more to me than a brand new motorcycle. It made my Christmas day......Muento Obrigado!!!!!!!
This was Elizabeth going after Alecia's $20.
And at the end of the day, in true African fashion, EVERYTHING goes up on top of the head and off they went..... (And back to my South African Vodka and iPod of Dylan with a little of Joan Jett singing Little Drummer Boy)
It was a good day. Sure wanted to be home but if not, made the best of it, I reckon......
FELIZ NATAL!
