Thanksgiving!

While most of you were sitting around the family dinner table enjoying your turkey, mashed potatoes, and pie, Maren, Daphne, and I found ourselves in the middle of a giant anniversary party for the neighboring town of Choquehuanca (or Chumbahumba, as we like to call it). Here in Peru the anniversary of a town is no small thing. Costumes are rented, singers are hired, games are brought in, and much beer is consumed. So our Thanksgiving was passed getting bombarded by marching bands playing huaynos (if you don't know what these are go to youtube or Maren's blog) and lots of ladies and some men swirling about in sparkling costumes. Luckily we were able to find a tent that held many foosball tables, so Maren and I challenged Fortunato and Daphne to ten+ rounds of awesome foosball on a table that barely made it from the 60s.

Our real Thanksgiving, though, was held on Saturday. We spent all day preparing apple crisp, a squash pie thing (DElicious, kudos to Daph), loads of mashed potatoes, vegetables, stuffing, and oven roasted chicken. We were unable to get a hold of a turkey because apparently they don't sell turkey anywhere until Christmas time. In any case, it was a smashing success with Everyone liking the food (a new phenomenon concerning the food we cook for them..though they're always very generous) and our three families getting together and having a great time chatting and getting stuffed. We were told many times (mostly by Veronica) that they would never forget this meal...and I don't think I will either. It was a wondeful moment where I think we all felt a real inclusion in this community.

I hope you all had a wondeful day as well!