So, part 2 of Christmas was our (ok solely Ian’s) acceptance of an invitation to a local family’s house for dinner. This family lives in the Umoja slum right next to Karibu Centre. The family is quite nice, and we had them for dinner once after the dad, Anthony, invited himself over. Hey, at least he’s a go-getter!
When Anthony, called to confirm our “Christmas reservation” for his house a few days before, he indicated that we needed to come for the ENTIRE day. I about died. “No way” I mouthed to Ian. Ian negotiated it down to 2 hours…from 11 to 1pm. We figured we could do our Christmas morning, go to the slum and eat a little, then come home for a regular, traditional type Christmas meal to end the day.
Are we still naive??? Haven’t we learned that the plans never go as laid in Kenya? We walked to their house, which Ian amazingly found among all of the corrugated metal walls running down one alley in the slum. Our 2 hours turned into 4 hours of hanging, watching raw goat be turned into BBQ’d nyama (meat), Kukuyu blood sausage, and child play toys. Here are some pics to give you a better idea:
Ian stayed for over 8 hours and represented the family well. Megan, I and the kids wimped out after 4 hours. The pregnancy was the only excuse they couldn’t argue with. What do you say to a woman who says she needs to “rest”? Ian was a sport. He came home sicker than a dog, laid on the floor and later rid his body of way too many goat parts that should not be eaten. Remember that stuffed stomach? He ate that, and about every other part of a goat that can possibly be eaten. Yuck.
Anyhow, I can’t imagine having a Christmas meal like this again! What an experience!