This night I had a combination birthday/going away party at our new house. I went to town to buy ingredients and Bree made cabbage salad and coconut rice. I bought rolls at the supermarket (a rare find) and cut up a pineapple for dessert. The most expensive thing was the coconut milk powder, imported from Thailand, at 14,000 shillings (about $9). Twenty bottles of beer and 5 bottles of soda cost 35,000 shillings ($23). The 12 rolls were about $2, pineapple 70 cents, cabbage, onions, tomatoes, peanuts, rice, and noodles all cost about $10.
I had given written invitations to 3 of my teachers, since we have a finite amount of seating. We have a couch and 4 chairs, plus four chairs for the dining table. To my surprise, 15 people from my school showed up, including the school secretary and headmaster. They all came together from school. I had the teachers help me get four chairs from our old house. I sat on a side table. Mama Caritas and the 3 Mzungus from Womencraft (Vanya, Ellie and Nancy) came a little later so we were only short about two chairs, and people took turns standing. Lucky I decided not to invite the missionaries. I cut the rolls in half and there ended up being enough food for everyone, since Bree likes to cook in large amounts anyway after having worked in a soup kitchen in New York.
We had speeches and the teachers gave me two kangas as a going away present. I got cards and candy from the Mzungus. Breana gave me a beautiful shawl.
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