Barbeque

Lest any of you think that life here in Monrovia is all work and no play, here’s proof that there is plenty enough play to get my mind off of work.  My colleagues Kristin and Beth decided it was time to have another barbecue on the old embassy compound, so that’s what we did.  

We have a few grills (stone and otherwise) over by the pool and folks brought their own meats and food to share.  Instant party.  As usual at these things, there was way too much food and plenty enough to drink.

The other day I found some bratwurst in the freezer section of Stop and Shop (I’d bought some brats from Belgium there a few weeks ago) and couldn’t believe that, while they no longer had the Beligum brats, they the same brand as the kind they sell at our local Albertson’s in Oregon (I don’t know if that is a good thing or is disturbing).  (And they also had Italian sausage!  Finally!  But at about $11.00 per pound . . . .).  Back to the barbeque.  So I had bratwurst on fresh french rolls and hmmmmmm. . . it was delicious!

We had a barbeque just about a year ago, and one thing that has changed is babies.  In 2011 Monrovia became an accompanied tour - no longer considered a super hardship tour.  Last year we saw our first baby (the father Louis is the guy in the front, back facing the photo, in the grey T-shirt).  Now we have 4 infants less than a year old at the embassy - a sign of normalcy.  Well, we only made it up to 2 babies at any one time yesterday, but it’s fun to have babies and little kids running around.

Best of all, no one talked shop!  Well, not until several hours later, which is what made me decide it was time to go home and chat with Ann!  We did talk a lot about soccer - and I wasn’t the only one instigating those conversations.  We also talked rugby, surfing, paddle boarding, and spear fishing (well, one guy did), and a lot of people shared stories about what they did when they were home in December.  Another group (those that were around over the holidays) talked about what they were going to do in a few months time when they take vacation (those of you suffering the winter storm in DC - folks here are smart enough not to go to the states at this time of year!).  

All in all, it was relaxing, though hot and humid (hey folks in DC and up north - note, it’s well past dark and everyone is still wearing short sleeved shirts), and everyone had a great time.