So after a great visit to Canada we are getting back into the daily grind here in Uganda. It was so nice to be back to see friends and family but with so much going on, we almost feel like we need another vacation.
While some things in Kampala have changed (most notably that everyone is electioneering leading up to a national election in February), we have setting back into our routine with surprising ease. Within the first month we have already had two visitors come and stay with us. As always, we are happy to have people visit and it provides and excuse to travel a little bit. 
We have also been bringing in the festive season in style. As Melissa is American we decided to host another Thanksgiving dinner (as if we really needed much prodding….). Last weekend we had 12 friends over for dinner from around the globe to celebrate the British colonies first harvest in America (I have sworn that I won’t discuss the true history of American Thanksgiving anymore, but it is interesting to see the different histories from those around America (and a British, American History grad)).
This thanksgiving was a little different than those in the past. Yes, we had the usual, pumpkin pie, mash potatoes, sweet potatoes, etc., but this time our turkey was a free ranger who was walking around our own backyard! Since we see so many chickens and turkeys running around, we thought we should get some of our own. We have chickens for eggs (not going so well, they don’t seem to be laying for some reason), meat and then our thanksgiving turkey.
Needless to say, the process of getting a walking turkey onto the table was interesting. Having never killed a turkey before, we asked two locals to help us navigate the way through. They were happy to show us what to do in exchange for a taste of the turkey once it was cooked (they had never had turkey before as it is too expensive for many locals here due to its size). Getting the turkey ready for roasting was surprisingly easy and (as Mel remarks in the video) was very more ‘tame’ than anticipated. For those interested in watching the video it is here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CgVmIwR4Sm4). Dinner was a resounding success. Once again, everything seemed to make it on the table just at the right time and everyone had a blast. It is always so fun for us to get together in an international environment and share our culture with others and also learn from them.
As if we didn’t eat enough at thanksgiving (we were all way over stuffed to the point that one couple needed to go home!), we were invited to two separate parties the next day to celebrate the first advent. Apparently advent is a very big part of German’s Christmas celebrations so we could not turn the invites down so off we went to see what advent is all about. The core of the celebration surrounds lighting the advent candles (there are four), but along the way much Glühwein (mulled wine) and baked goods are consumed. We could not be happier to have partaken.
To round out our holiday week, this Wednesday was the first night of Chanukah. Despite the fact that we don’t have a menorah we were not to be swayed from our latkes. We assembled a menorah made from used bottles and went to shredding the onion and potatoes, while trying to avoid taking of our knuckles (Stu already cut of the top of his thumb while making Thanksgiving). The latkes were delicious and happily shared with our friend Mark.
Who knows what the plan is for the next holiday but we are looking forward to it!
