Christmas in July

In the months leading up to our visit from America Janet created and
revised several lists of items unattainable in Africa to request from
our families. These translated into one very bulky and heavy duffle
that her mom and Tim hauled halfway around the world and Luc lugged
the final leg from Lilongwe to our site, on and off various crowed
buses/mini-buses, and shouldered the last stretch up the dirt road to
our house - we took the long way, crossing our stream over the bridge
instead of chancing the tree trunks we normally use. We had not peaked
at the loot kept under travel lock during the trip, so after a small
belated birthday celebration, we tore into the bounty. One of the
items we used immediately on our shaggetti dinner - the parmeseam
cheese Janet had been fantasizing about since her previous shipment
disappeared in the Tete post office. Luc got shoes from home to
replace the boots he's worn every day for the past nine months, which
have developed holes in both soles, and various items of new clothes.
Janet also revamped her wardrobe, thanks in part to a mini Janet
(mom)/Pauline shopping spree. We both got Spain shirts direct from
World Cup South Africa, which are a hit at school. Various loved ones
sent cards and American dollars we'll have to think of some way to
treat ourselves with. We also got new pictures of our nephew Neal who
looks so much bigger now, selections from the David/Marcos DVD
collection, and travel speakers so our noise can compete with the
general Mozambique cacophony. We'll be eating dried blueberries,
walnuts, almonds, quinoa, couscous, chocolate, trail mix, and the
assorted American candies which stuffed Melinda's surprise Mozambique
flag piñata, and Janet will be cutting Luc's Puyol-like shaggy hair
with the new clippers. With all the wrapping paper and shiny new toys,
it felt like Christmas, but just like the real Christmas, it was not
so much the actual presents, but having part of our family together
and feeling all the love sent from America that overwhelmed us with
joy.