Pelin stayed around a bit to go to Veronica's with us, so we headed over (me, Chanel, Jessica, Pelin and Kaliya) (Betty, one of the translators and social workers from the school and Marjani and Jack joined us). She had made us fish and meat and matooke (I obviously skipped out on the meat), and then milk tea which was delicious and cake (though I didn't have the cake). We met more of her kids and nieces and nephews, and her sister, who brought me over to their fathers which is apparently a few houses over. He owns quite a lot of land and buildings, and a lot of the family lives around there, which is nice. Veronica is one of the few who actually grew up in Namatala, and not in a village elsewhere.
After everyone left, Veronica took me, Jessica, and Betty to her plot of land where she grows produce to sell. It was awesome to see and she taught Jessica how to pull up the maize (which she also gave us some of). It was fun being out with her, and impressive how she walked barefoot through her fields.
Jessica trying to pull out a corn stalk and Veronica helping
When we got back to her house it was getting dark, and she asked us in for sodas but we told her we needed to get back... next time.
Today is my birthday! I'm not really a huge fan of having all the attention on me, I'm generally more into just getting all my friends together, so it's working out nicely here. We went out to lunch at the place we first tried yesterday, Chat N Chino. Turns out it's similar to the Internet cafe but BETTER. They have so many foods from back home and they all taste great! Yesterday I had a mocha milk shake that tastes exactly like hagen daaz coffee ice cream (reminded me of my Grandma Anne, it used to be her favorite). Today I treated myself to mushroom soup, praying that it would actually be good, since most other soups we've gotten in Mbale have been disasters. This one was SO GREAT and it even came with a croissant/roll and butter... yum!!
Then work was pretty normal, though I bought myself a necklace I've been eyeing from Aidha as my birthday gift :)
Chanel and I had a nice walk home, and then Avaran stopped by. He was mad at me for not telling him it was my birthday or inviting him to dinner... I can't really give much excuse except I hate advertising my birthday, and I felt bad about not inviting him to dinner, but I didn't think he'd go to a restaurant (turns out he would've gotten a drink) and he also hasn't spent time with our group much... I feel badly about it though. I probably should've invited him.
Once he left we all went out to dinner at Delicious Dishes (the Indian place). Good thing we went when we did since a bunch of westerners showed up after us, and as is it took at least 45 minutes to get our food. We discovered they have great veggie pasta, a wonderful birthday meal (that I split with Avery). It was really nice being out for dinner, which we never do. Everyone chipped in to pay for my meal, too, which was unexpected and really nice of them (I know back home it's more expected, but here...? I dunno) They also picked me up a brownie which was really nice.
When we got back to the casa Becca gave me a painting that he and Saleh bought for me in town (it also has a photograph of me attached...) It was so nice and really unexpected and kind.
No comments:
Post a Comment