The Social Gathering

As many of you know I am working mainly with three schools. These first few months have been essential in the building up of good positive relationships with the teachers in the schools.  I thought it would be useful to meet the teachers socially to develop these relationships by inviting them for a meal at my house.  The first teachers invited were from Masia Mamba.  I hope I haven't paid a too bleak a picture of my accommodation because apart from the continuous loss of electricity it is very good.  There were 10 to be accommodated which I just managed around my table as you can see from the first photograph.  I decided we would have pre-drinks in the gazebo with a few nibbles before then moving inside to eat.  That was my first hurdle - what should I cook. I decided on a starter of tuna with salad to be followed by Bob's version of bubble and squeak and followed by an assortment of cheese and finally finish with yogurt and fresh pineapple.  I have a small oven  which has two rings and two kerosene burners. The morning didn't start well with no electricity but I didn't panic.  The bubble and squeak is a beef dish with onions, carrots and leaks with a topping of  potatoes and cabbage.  Thankfully the electricity came on just as I put the two dishes, precariously balanced in the oven, to cook.  The guests should have arrived at 2 pm and by 2.30 I began to get worried.  Had they mixed up the time thinking I meant Swahili time.  That's another thing to tell you about - Swahili time!! Another time perhaps. They arrived at 3 pm (Andy Page and Sandra all is forgiven- an in joke with friends who are always late)  just as I began to think about abandonment and opening a lunchtime stall in the gazebo. Time means nothing to them and arriving at a set time unknown!  They all but 1 drank beer and thankfully I had purchased a grate of Kilimanjaros. The pre-drinks and nibbles went down well.  We didn't sit down until four and thankfully because the electricity is so low the food was just cooked to a turn.  The food went down really well and the conversation flowed for the next two hours.   They have the same hang ups, aspirations, fears, desires and needs as all my friends!   A home from home.  They loved the food and the different courses.   They particularly liked the yogurt which they had never had before.   Although I was amazed when they asked why the lettuce was not cooked.  We drank much beer and finished with a nice local coffee and whisky.   They now think I am the best thing since sliced bread!! But I think its cupboard love!!!