Norwegian Dinner

Yesterday we spent time at the beach, it was nice and sunny and just the right temperature. We got a pina (pineapple) where they cut off the top, mash up the pina inside; add grenadine, salt, lime juice and chile; and then add an assortment of various fruits/veggies on top. It was delicious.

Today we ran some errands and helped mom make her Norwegian dinner for christmas eve. She made a batch of kjott boller (meatballs) to go with a lingonberry sauce. Well, Luke and Emily decided they wanted some brown gravy also and so we tried to make the gravy and weren't too effective. We ended up ruining the meatballs for the lingonberry sauce (it basically turned into beef stroganoff - still very tasty); so we ended up making up another batch of Swedish meatballs to go with the lingonberry sauce. Mom also made hasselbach potatoes with cheese, surkal cabbage, broccoli, and we made some "no-knead" bread. Dad made chocolate/peanut butter truffles and Mom made riskrem for dessert.

Earlier in the day, Dad and Emily went over to Juana's house to deliver the gifts we got for her and the kids (clothes and an activity book in both english and spanish). Her youngest kid, was so excited to see us with the gifts he could hardly contain himself. Their family of 5 is poor (like everyone else here), live in an unfinished one-room concrete block (10X12ft) house where the 3 beds pretty much fill up the entire house (typical). We like practicing our spanish with Juana and the kids often come over to hang out after school while their parents work 6 days per week. It is really amazing how much the Mexicans work here, for pretty much nothing. The minimum wage is $4.30 per day and I think an average wage is from $7-$35 per day, many working well over 8 hours per day, 6 days per week. It is strange because many things are not cheap here. The clothes we buy on sale at Old Navy in the states are way cheaper then the clothes they sell here. Their electricity costs are comparable to the states (8 cents/kilowatt-hr), phones are expensive (same price as in the states), cell phones are outrageous (30-60 cents per minute and other strange fees). I am not sure how they make it here. My mom found this interesting article, please read it and maybe it will help you understand why so many Mexicans come to the US for a better life, I am certain I would do the same if I was in the situation here. There is no help from the Mexican government, there is so much corruption at all levels of government, including schools and universities! Anyways, we were surprised when Juana had gifts for us. She gave me some lotion and Luke some deodorant (is that a hint?), Dad some shaving cream, and mom a dolphin statue, which was really sweet. I think she might sell the beauty products, but were humbled that she would give us something when we know they don't have much.

Today we had to get a photo of the grilled chickens they sell everywhere. They are really good and come with rice, salsa, cabbage, and tortillas.

Tonight the Mexicans will celebrate with dinner at 10pm and many go to church tonight. Around midnight, celebratory fireworks and gunshots are supposed to occur as well. Tomorrow it will begin to get very busy here on the beach. The Mexicans will come from all over and the beach will be very packed until after New Years Day. Vendors are getting prepared for the big week, where they make a substantial portion of their money for the year. We were talking to some friends who run a taco stand and they told us they normally prepare 15 kilos (30 lbs) of birria meat per day, but for Christmas Day they will make 30 kilos, and by mid-week they will prepare 45 kilos per day. Luke will probably hit their stand tomorrow morning for breakfast. They always want to chat with us and practice english, and us, spanish.