Thinking about the day wears me out! It was long, but fun. We started out traveling over to the “Silk Market”, trying to finish up our Christmas shopping. We arrive around 9:30am, well ahead of the crowds. The vendors are scrambling, trying to get us into their shops. We keep hearing “good deal, first sale today, good price”, and many other variations as we walk by. You don’t dare stop until you’re serious about looking. It’s hard to get out of the small vendor stalls without buying. They do everything but physically block you in.
After we get back to the apartment, we start cooking the fresh green beans we’ve cleaned and snapped. When they’re done, we dress for the evening, pack up the beans, and head over to the home of Judy’s principal, Kyra Gailis. We’ve been invited for Thanksgiving dinner, and it’s a huge spread. She’s cooked a turkey, sweet potato casserole, pumpkin pie, and mashed potatoes. She did all of this with a small portable oven, only slightly larger than a toaster oven. It’s a great meal and fun to talk about everyone’s Thanksgiving experiences in other countries. Kyra grew up in Florida, but her parents live in Texas now. Her husband is Latvian, and they lived and taught in Latvia for many years. Dani, the secondary principal, is Austrialian, and has experienced Thanksgiving in the Phillipines, and Vietnam, as well as China. Anthony, the Middle Years Program Coordinator, is Greek, and had varied Thanksgiving experiences in Europe.
After dinner, we beg out, and head over to party #2 for the evening. Mindy, the BISS athletic director is celebrating her 35th birthday at a Japanese restaurant. Mindy is from Iowa, and her boyfriend is Australian. We arrive late, but just in time for the food to arrive. We’re both stuffed, which works out just fine. Eel, squid, and sushi are not at the top of my list for a meal. In fact, they’re not anywhere on our list of foods. There are a few beef dishes that are served, and we snack a little, enjoying the company. Several continents are represented with Australians, New Zealanders, a Spaniard, a Brit, some Chinese, and a few Americans. It makes for a varied view of the world. As the evening winds down, I get a chance to perform a few of my card tricks. This is my first attempt in performing these in a long time, so I’m a little shaky, but it eventually works out, with the appropriate amazement from the group. (Whew, it was close a few times).