Over Christmas I got in this hitch with a more “well-to-do” Basotho couple and their beautiful newborn baby. As usual with hitches, you try to make conversation any way you can (in Sesotho, and if you’re lucky, in English) and try to avoid the potential awkwardness. I tend to turn the music up and have a mini dance party on the way to my destination, but that’s just me. Anyways, a natural question was to ask if they had any special plans for Christmas. I ended up explaining our American Christmas to a type of people who if they are lucky just celebrate by eating a fine meal, and this was when I realized how weird we are. Hearing the words come out of my mouth and seeing the couple’s more than appropriate reaction was cracking me up:
“we cut down a tree from outside and put it in our house for sometimes over a month.”
“a strange man comes into our house at night and to make sure we know he came, we leave out cookies and milk.”
“we hang big socks over our fireplaces with our names on them.”
…. wtf America?
On a serious note, I missed all of these strange traditions and this was my first Christmas away from home and my family. Even though it was definitely different and somewhat sad to be here during the holidays, I was not alone. I received the most awesome packages from my family, and I have the best Peace Corps friends. We spent Christmas at the picturesque Katsi Dam (google it yo) and cooking tons of delicious food. Not bad, eh?
and you got drunk!!
christmas was NOT the same without you. guess what though?! under 6 months till i get to see you!!!!!