Christmas in Kenya

It all started with a heated and chaotic negotiation with a Maasai goat herder. (You know, how most Christmas stories start.) After settling on a price, we tied up two fat white male goats, subsequently named Howard and Tom Bin Laden, and loaded them into the trunk of Daniel's yellow Toyota Scion.

Tom and Howard had one night to fill their bellies with a bit more grass at the Boys Center, just enough time for Daniel to sharpen the knives. The slaughter began on Christmas afternoon. With a quick swipe at the throat, Howard passed into goat heaven with surprising stillness. Two hours and several buckets of blood, fat and skin later: "Goat guts roasting on an open fire..."

Was it gory? Sure. Did it taste funny? A bit. Would you do it again? Hell yes.

The rest of the day was spent eating every part of the goat imaginable. A few spontaneous dance parties erupted, courtesy of the boys' impressive moves and Lil' Wayne's not-so-impressive music. Noticeably absent were Christmas carols, cold weather, and movies about Red Ryder carbine-action 200-shot range model air rifles. (You'll shoot your eye out!)

You can find (bloodless) pictures here from my time in Nairobi so far.

Spending the holidays in Africa has been a refreshing alternative to the commercially crazed chaos of the U.S. The more we have, the more we need (or think we need). But here, millions are content with just a full stomach. I'm sure that sounds trite. I probably read something to that effect before I came here. But, it's impossible to appreciate such a basic way of life without seeing it first hand. When you have so little, the little you have is everything. Family, food, education and health. And if you've got that, you're genuinely happy.

Hope everyone is enjoying their holidays, wherever you are.