Hello everyone!

It’s been quite some time since I have posted. Since I last wrote, we have enjoyed some interesting experiences. Perhaps my most memorable one, which I’m sure you have already heard a lot about was Thanksgiving here in Capetown. Instead of reiterating the menu we whipped up – I made the stuffed mushrooms by the way- and explaining how we attempted to create an American atmosphere, I thought I would share my most memorable South African Thanksgiving experience.

While I was at clinical at Mitchell’s Plain on Wednesday, one of the sisters was asking me about our plans for Thanksgiving. Although Thanksgiving is not a federal holiday here in South Africa, it is apparently quite popular and celebrated by some of the population. I told Sister Oliver about our plans for creating the most delicious apple pie yet, a heaping bowl of buttered mashed potatoes and butternut squash with cinnamon.

Sister Oliver heard this and offered to take me into the marketplace outside our hospital during our lunch break to go “shopping”. I went into the marketplace where just about anything and everything is sold… anything from fresh fish and soap to vegetables and DVDs. We were walking through the marketplace and the Sister took me over to the butcher’s table. Immediately, I hesitated a bit because although I am not a vegatarian, I like to skip imagining the step between the farm and the dinner table, if you catch my drift. As we came closer to the table I realized that this butcher was not planing to waste a single scrap of the animals he sold. I began to squeeze my water bottle tighter and tighter.

The sister came right over to the table and picked up the plastic bag containing a South African delicacy ….a pig’s head. She held it up and offered it to me. I declined as gracefully as I could. She even offered to cook it for us and bring it over. Again, I gracefully declined and told her we would be sticking to poultry on Thanksgiving. By the way, pig’s heads only go for 35 rand here, thats $3.50 at home. Pretty great bargain huh? Anyway, I thankfully talked the Sister out of this meal option and returned to the unit with a rather diminished appetite. Back on the unit Sister Oliver explained to all the other sisters that I had declined on the pig’s head option and how she thought I was missing out. I asked the Sister if her children were ever scared to find a pig’s head staring back at them from inside the oven, she laughed and said “Of course not!” The sister asked me if I was American, to which I replied, yes. She then asked me why I wasn’t as brave as all the other Americans on Fear Factor. I explained to her that the Americans on Fear Factor are not exactly an accurate portrayal of all Americans. I think the Sister was even more disappointed to hear this from me!

I informed the other girls at the house that I had turned down the opportunity to dine on swine for Thanksgiving and they didn’t seem too disappointed. I wish I could be a little more daring, like my fellow Americans on Fear Factor but I just am not.

Thankfully, we did enjoy our Thanksgiving meal and had the opportunity to share it with a few of the gardeners. They had appetizers with us and we sent a tray of food home with them. All in all, we had a pretty good holiday considering we were overseas. I know everyone is excited to come home in time for Christmas and spend it with their loved ones. We will be home in 14 days! Until then enjoy the snow and we will see you soon!