Party

We have just been to 50th birthday party of a neighbour (I am partly invited to these events as I am always willing to take photos, I think!). Birthdays here are so different. Men sit inside the house with (what seems) the best food and women and children are outside, often under an awning. The food consists of goat (sometimes also cattle), chicken, spinach, an oil made from crushed marula nuts, mahangu (millet porridge with a polenta-like consistency), and often a traditional bowl of oshikundu, a drink made from brewing millet (it can be alcohol or non-, and is served in traditional wooden cups and scooped out with a hollowed calabash.) You will see from the abundance of pink what the local traditional material looks like.
Usually there is no music, though some families sing some hymns and say some prayers during the celebration which is rather a nice idea.
There is also a photo of Étienne composing his latest musical masterpiece and of Caris playing a duet with her Dad. The music book she has provides duet pieces so a teacher can lay along with the student on some pieces - a great idea.
We have had cattle, goats and chickens wandering into our yard ... but today was the first time we had pigs! Mum soon whisked her piglets out hen she saw us approaching. They were SO hairy!
We have ben invited to a baptism party today (oh, and could we please transport lots of people and also perhaps bring the camera?). David will go by himself as it is the afternoon Beth and I have invited a number of local ladies to a special afternoon tea and then to make Gospel bracelets. We are trying to establish a sense of regularity in attendance as people tend to be very (to our cultural viewpoint) erratic. Already 2 ladies are off to the baptism, another has just gone away today with work to another region, one has decided to go back to the village for the weekend (a common thing for people and a big reason for the irregular attendance) and another has had her grandmother arrive unexpectedly on her doorstep this morning. So, as usual, we are not sure how many will actually arrive.
Tomorrow, at the drama class, Caris' dance teacher has offered to come along and give some input. I am not sure what she has in mind but am going wth the flow! Should be interesting. The Nativity play is on 10 November. Now all I have to do is finish writing the play so they can rehearse it!