21st December: We went to Mount Ngaoundéré, it took us as much as maybe fifteen minutes to walk up the small hill and the view was really nice! We took some cool pictures and had a nice time up there with some friends.
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| View over Ngaoundéré |
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| Mount Ngaoundéré |
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| Slingshots - always handy |
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| Chillin' on the top with the boys |
Just before we were going down, Sara-Jeanette managed to fall from a big rock and scare a snake which was lurking around our feet without us noticing it! In anticipation to be able to shoot at a snake with the cool slingshots that the boys had brought with them, we hadn’t noticed it before this. But unfortunately the snake had vanished before anybody could get a nice aim at it. But satisfied with the sight and not so satisfied by the hurting hand Sara-Jeanette, me and the others made our way back down safely to the car.
22nd December: The day started with spending some time at the pool and in the afternoon we went to the Norwegian School to join a Christmas porridge dinner together with all the workers at the Station. There we got traditional Norwegian rice porridge with cinnamon sugar and butter. It was really good! The Bischler boys performed a little song for us and Erik had a speech before he said that all of the workers would get ¼ of a goat each for Christmas! So right about then someone brought ten goats with ribbons and names of the owners around their neck, over to the school and tied them in the trees. Erik instructed that the goats were to be slaughtered before the 24th so that it would be ready for the feast on the 25th for all the households. All the workers were really exited to see them and they couldn’t stop rejoicing and thanking God for the gift.
23rd December: We were invited to lunch at the Norwegian School where we were gathered together with the other Norwegians who had come to spend Christmas here some days before. We got allot of good Norwegian food and cakes, and we enjoyed the company with the others very much. The Music club had a concert for us outside and collected money for the work in the Sunday Schools in the church. A very nice performance!
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| The red bowl was overflowing with money! |
After the lunch we went together with the boys to the market for some last minute Christmas shopping. Which included Kristian buying two chickens which were very much alive (!) to one of our friends here for Christmas. This then led to some screaming and laughing in the car on the way back home.
Sara-Jeanette and I had decided to make some marzipan for Christmas and as it was the evening before Christmas Eve we had to make it then if we were going to make it before the big day. Runar also joined in for a bit as mental support and with Christmas songs on the loudspeakers we had a really nice evening! In other words the evening lived up to the traditions with my family in Norway.
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| Moise with the two chicks |
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| Me and our mental support = Runar |
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| The Marzipan, yum,yum! |
24th December: The big day started with watching “Tre nøtter til Askepott” together with Runar and Kristian with lots of sweets and sodas. Later we helped out with arranging chairs out at the back of the Norwegian School for the sermon which was held by one of the Norwegians that were here at the station for Christmas. With really nice weather, Norwegian songs and a nice sermon made it all remind of how the first Christmas might have been.
After the sermon we were invited to the Bischler house together with the one-year-volunteers, the Aasen family, Jan Martin and Oda Hurum. We had a really nice Christmas dinner with “pinnekjøtt” which made us all feel the Christmas spirit even a bit more than what we had earlier.
The evening passed with eager kids who wanted to open presents, nice conversations and a really enjoyable company of people.
I also had a short conversation with the family back in Vanse too before they all went to sleep.
After the sermon we were invited to the Bischler house together with the one-year-volunteers, the Aasen family, Jan Martin and Oda Hurum. We had a really nice Christmas dinner with “pinnekjøtt” which made us all feel the Christmas spirit even a bit more than what we had earlier.
The evening passed with eager kids who wanted to open presents, nice conversations and a really enjoyable company of people.
I also had a short conversation with the family back in Vanse too before they all went to sleep.
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| The four of us, f.l. Runar, Sara-Jeanette, me and Kristian |
A bit strange not being home for Christmas this year, but I can honestly say with a hand on my heart that I wouldn’t have it any other way this year. There will be many other Christmases at home, but never another Christmas here in Ngaoundéré as a Hald student so I enjoyed it while I could!
Merry Christmas!
Johanne Teresie
Johanne Teresie
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