With Every Passing Day...: Christmas in Lesotho!

If I've learned one thing, it's that Christmas in Lesotho looks just a tiny bit different then what I'm accustomed to... :) For example, my Christmas preparations began with stuffing countless pots, sleeping bag, dish-soap, clothes, food, plus the ever-so-important TP into my overstuffed hiking pack. And as if the pack and bo-Me bag full of food and other supplies wasn't enough... Christmas in Lesotho wouldn't be complete without a little comedy routine! So I proceeded to chase two likhoho (chickens) around my Ntate's chicken-pen, much to the entertainment of my little Basotho cheering squad (ie. kids). We tied their feet, and stuffed those suckers into yet ANOTHER oversized bo-Me' bag! And this is only where the adventure begins... I, my two sqwaking chickens, two bo-Me' bags, and hiking pack then proceeded to cram into an unbelievably overstuffed khombi taxi (not once, but twice!)- And off we went to spend Christmas Eve with the other PCVs at Kyle's site in Butha-Buthe! All I can say, is that I will never again judge bo-Me' for sticking any given assortment of food, children, and livestock on my lap and in my face while on public transport. I am officially guilty of stuffing chickens on the poor Ntate who sat next to me. :) Although I do think the whole deal won the respect of more than a few women in Ha Selomo, who watched my comedy routine from a distance...

So here's the bad news... Only one of my chickens made it to Kyle's alive! But if you're looking for some sense of equality and justice, you'll be happy to know the other didn't get to live much longer! I told the boys from the get-go... I'll get the chickens to Kyle's house (Which mind you was a liuttle bit of treck, even once we got off the second txi.... He does NOT necessarily live near the main road, so just imagine 4 of us shluffing ourselves across the Lesotho foothills to reach the festivities), but the boys get to do the slaughtering. Well our dear friend, Shawn, has literally been talking about wanting to kill a chicken from Day 1 in Lesotho- Strange obsession, but we were oh-so-happy to oblige him! And for a second I honestly didn't think he'd do it... But he did! It's totally debateable who screamed more during the process, the chicken or Kim. :) And later that night, Kyle made the most amazing fried chicken ever! So good! It was worth the chicken escapade.

It was Shawn's moment to shine, but we all had our doubts he could pull it off...

The much anticipated moment!

Horray! Never underestimate a PCV, or his desire for fried chicken on Christmas!

Laura was simultaneously very intrigued and incredibly disgusted to hold meat that was still warm... She just kept saying, "This is so weird. This is SO weird!" :)

This is how we roll out the Christmas Spirit in Lesotho! Haha They didn't take off the Santa hat and antlers for our entire 4-day Christmas break. :)

Kim and Will :)

Ready to cook Christmas Eve Dinner!

We don't do too bad without a stove or refrigerator! Delicious!

Kyle is a fried chicken genius! SO good!

We ended Christmas Eve with good friends, great food, plenty of wine, and Mike's rather entertaining and dramatic rendition of "The Night Before Christmas." It was so great to see everyone... I don't think I would've cared where we all were! The next morning we sat around drinking instant coffee, watching the sunrise over the mountains, and reading... The rain let up just in time for us to slowly make our way across the district to Liphofung National Park, where I'd reserved a chalet for our group (just beside a chalet full of some of our other fellow PCVs!)

It wouldn't be Christmas without a reading of "The Night Before Christmas"... AND "The Night AFTER Christmas"??? Haha Very funny.

Merry Christmas! Books and coffee on Christmas morning!

Liphofung was marvelous, and it was great that everyone got some space there to let their hair down without the constantly prying eyes of village life. We ate too much, sang Christmas carols, drank wine, played one awesome and make-shift game of Twister, watched Die Hard (at the insistence of the boys, who seemed to be under the impression that it is a Christmas classic! Haha), laid around and read all day long, took a trip down to see Liphofung caves, talked to family back home on the phone, and savored the hot showers, electricity, oven, and refrigerator! It was heaven! We're absolutely planning on going back again next year. :)