Kamou

Today felt more like a Christmas celebration than Christmas did. People were running around like crazy, there were a ton of villagers coming and going, there was a special meal at lunch, and there was an entire night of dancing. The regional celebration of Christmas is Kamou (fancy word for party). It takes place on or after Christmas to celebrate what the Western world does on Christmas. In all it was much more festive and cheerful feeling than yesterday when I spent half of the time sleeping or walking around and listening to music.

The highs from the day:
lunch was amazing (frog was the appetizer), I got laughed a by the 9 year old sitting next to me when I asked someone if you could eat the eyes (which you can and I did), that same 9 year-old wouldn’t leave my side for the rest of the night, I danced a few separate times, I ate dog, I managed to receive a name in Kabiyé (Mazama – give thanks), and I ate a piece of cake (first time in almost 6 months).

The low for the day:
Mass lasted 3 hours due to the First Communion, Confirmation, Baptism, Renewal of Vows ceremonies that were integrated into it. And the choir sang a full song after what seemed like almost every word out of the priest’s mouth. Think of a presidential address when people clap after everything that is said. To compound the agony, Colin and I were starving since breakfast was earlier than normal and nothing more than a piece of bread and some tea and mass pushed lunch back until 2 o’clock. It was awful.