The few of us who were in charge of significant parts of Thanksgiving then passed out here so we could wake up at 5 am and put the turkeys in their pit. The pit was filled with charcoal and wet banana leaves and then the dirt was poured back in so we could dig them all up again at 530pm. Yea, it takes 10 hours to pit roast turkeys, and even when we dug them up they weren't fully cooked and some pieces had to be sauteed.
Then 40 pounds of potatoes had to be hand peeled and diced. Along with all the stuffing, salads, mac and cheese and green beans we were cooking. At around 1 we hit a wall where nothing else could be done until 3ish because otherwise everything would be ready at different times so we went to the bar, naturally, and played the types of games families typically play after they finish their meals. Care packages came the day before thanksgiving so I had received a football and we had a game in the pouring rain when we got back ( a very nice American touch).
All in all it was a good holiday, I'm not sure it was Thanksgiving, but it was a holiday. There were a few moments when people got emotional and homesick on such a long stressful day: namely myself if we're being honest here, but as i've learned already on this adventure Peace Corps might be the best support network I've ever witnessed. Try and hide the fact that you were crying in a room of PCTs who already consider themselves your family and see how well it goes over. Hint: it doesn't. You will be offered any and all candy or booze on the premise and given a bear hug while several other people tell you they feel the same way. So at the end of the day that is what I'm thankful for this year: for finding my people. It's been a long hard year and I had to come all the way to Africa to find them but it was one of those moments where you know you are in the right place.
Happy Holidays all! Let the countdown to 2012 and an official new beginning begin.
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