Christmas in Africa

We as Westerners celebrated Christmas early this year. We actually celebrated it exactly a week ago from today.  We held our party in one of our rooms. Charlie, one of my friends from Washington State, had a very small Christmas tree he received from home, and that was our decoration. Some of us dressed up for this celebration, others came just as they were. We had Christmas music playing, and even had “nice furniture”, (by this I mean, we put two of the plastic chairs we sit on together and draped a shuka over it, and it became a couch!) and what is a party without food? We planned this celebration to be on a night when we had chipati’s (flat bread like tortilla); because that is the best food we have here on the base. So for our main dish we had chipati’s filled with cooked vegetables, and a soda. We also had a mixed dish for an appetizer. Want to take a guess at what it was? You have 10 westerners that range from the ages of 18-23, we are in Africa and supplies are limited. Our appetizer was tums and almonds, mixed together. But we put them in a glass dish! We had a little class. So, that was the setting.

            After we ate our food, we each went around and shared how we celebrate Christmas with our families. Note, there are 6 different countries represented among us: America, Germany, Sweden, Switzerland, South Africa, and The Netherlands. It was neat learning about Christmas from many different cultures and families. Next it was time for gifts! About a month ago, we each drew names to do a “secret Santa” gift exchange. Many of us got jerseys! Other gifts were: t-shirts, shukas, jewelry, etc. And, like with any group of young people we had gag gifts: a can of beans, sunscreen, and toilet paper… etc.

            All in all it was a great celebration, and lots of fun. I will not be able to decorate the Christmas tree, eat Christmas cookies, watch ABC’s countdown to Christmas, or spend Christmas with my friends and family in America this year, but I got to spend Christmas with my friends and family here in Arusha. It is nothing like it would be at home, but I this helps me miss it a little bit less. Plus, can any of you say you have celebrated Christmas in Africa?!