Rogan Josh

Tonight Amy and I made our first curry dish. Curry is now the most popular dish in England surpassing meat and potatoes or fish and chips. It was also my first lesson teaching Amy how to cook.
It was very simple since we bought the rogan josh sauce from the store as well as the pappadums. We cooked up the chicken first then added the curry sauce and let it simmer for 30 minutes. While that was cooking we started the rice. It was a very simple meal to prepare, and very yummy to eat!!!

It can be made with either chicken, lamb (traditional), shrimp, or veggies.

Here's a recipe for a rogan josh sauce. But I don't know how good it is, since I obviously did the cheater version!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/food/recipes/database/simplelambroganjosh_67784.shtml

Charis House Open Day

This Saturday was the Open House Day and anniversary celebration for Good News Family Care. We sold cookies and other goodies along with products from the woodworking project at the farm in hopes of raising a little money for GNFC.
There were displays of each section of GNFC and their purpose in the organization.
At 11am we had a service including a speech by a resident, singing, a presentation from a member of the board of trustees, a speech from one of the directors and other musical contributions. This was followed by a sandwich and soup lunch for everyone.

The Holiday Season

Thursday we combined our Thanksgiving celebrations with Christmas celebrations since Binod will be back in Nepal for Christmas. Sue, Amy, Binod, and I went to Chatsworth. This is the house of the Duke of Devonshire. Its most recent claim to fame is its feature role as Mr. Darcy’s house in the latest rendition of “Pride and Prejudice” with Keira Knightly.
They have recently just decorated the house for Christmas with each room being decorated all in a certain color. The house on it’s own is splendid, but with the Christmas decorations makes the house even more magical!
We returned in the early afternoon to continue our cooking extravaganza for our Thanksgiving feast that night. While things were baking we also watched “Wallace and Grommet” and played Scrabble. I was very impressed with how well Binod played Scrabble considering English isn’t his first language. I don’t know that I would have been so successful playing in German!
For dinner Amy and I had Mick, Sue, Tammy, Binod, Lisa, Jo and Naomi over. We invited about 15-20 more from church and work for dessert. It was great to have so many people come celebrate the holiday with us. However, it did get confusing celebrating Thanksgiving and Christmas in one day!
For dinner we served a traditional meal with turkey, cranberry sauce, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes with marshmallows, corn, green bean casserole, salad, and dinner roles. For dessert we made 2 pecan pies, 2 pumpkin pies, apple crisp, apple bars, zucchini bread, chocolate chip cookies, oatmeal cookies, and peanut butter cookies. Sue also made mulled wine for everybody.
I was very happy that so many people came and the food turned out so well. It made the holiday much better than I had expected. But I did realize that there actually is “No place like home for holidays”. But I also realized that I have been very blessed to be placed in such a supportive environment for my year abroad. It made being away from family on Thanksgiving better than I could have anticipated!

English Kids Say the Darndest Things

A few silly stories:
A few weeks ago I was sitting in the living room with Sadie and her mom. She pointed to my thumb and asked me what it was. I told her it was my thumb. I guess because of my accent she said, “That sounds like thong. That’s the kinda pants [underwear] my mummy wears.”

Last Friday we went on an excursion with the Whaley Bridge youth group. Since it was an activity out of the normal there were a few kids who don’t usually come and therefore aren’t used to me yet. On our way home one girl (about 11) told me “You don’t talk like I’m from around Buxton. But I can’t figure out where it’s from…It’s not Buxton, not Birmingham. It’s not Newcastle.” Then Nigel said, “No it’s much further west than that.” She kept naming places ending with another girl in the back telling her that I was from America. Her response was, “Well I guess it’s east from England…depending which way you’re facing.”

Yesterday I was having lunch in the dining room with a mixture of staff, residents, and community support clients. Sadie had been sick during the night and wasn’t at school. However by lunchtime she was obviously feeling much better. I was teasing her about “playing hooky” which is a term not used in England. She had also been playing with Junior Scrabble during our conversation. When Natalie (a community support client) walked up to the table Sadie asked Natalie to play hooky with her, clearly thinking that I was calling the board game she was looking at hooky. I laughed so hard I started choking on my vegetables.

Another Lesson in English

I’ve decided that is time for another lesson in British English!

Stone- pit/ weight measurement (=14lbs)
Courgette- zucchini
Brush- broom
Coach- bus
Keeper- goalie
Kit- uniform (sports)
Cash point- ATM
Swede- rutabaga
Go off- expire
Engaged- busy (phone line)
Ta- thank you
Shattered- tired
Dungarees- jeans
Butty- sandwich
Pitch- field
Whingging- whining
Ring- phone call
Call- come for a visit
Mam/mum- mom
Nan- grandma
Post- mail
Chuck- throw
Pinch- steal
Takeaway- take-out
Swot- nerd
Nick- steal
Sweets- candy
Cling film- saran-wrap
Plaster- band-aid
Solicitor- lawyer
Car park- parking lot
Settee- couch
purse- wallet
Prawn- shrimp
Plait- braid
Brew- cup of tea of coffee
Fancy dress- costume
Faff around- goof around
Hash key- pound key (#)
Stag night- bachelor party
Hen night- bachelorette party
Scrummy- yummy
Aubergine- eggplant
Candy floss- cotton candy
Gherkin- pickle
Icing sugar- powdered sugar
Jacket potato- baked potato
Jelly- Jell-o

Guy Fawkes Day

Guy Fawkes Day is November 5. It is the commemoration of the failure of Guy Fawkes and his followers of blowing up Parliament and killing the king in 1605. His group was Roman Catholic and their goal was to end Protestant rule in England by killing the Protestant aristocracy. However their Gunpowder Plan was foiled and it is now celebrated annually with a bonfire and fireworks. Historically old clothes were stuffed to make a body (supposed to be Guy Fawkes) and placed on top of the bonfire to burn. This is now seen as a little too archaic and gruesome and is not as popular as it once was.

My celebrations of Guy Fawkes started Nov. 1st by attending the bonfire in Fairfield. However, due to extreme cold and me being ill we left soon after the bonfire started and missed the fireworks. Saturday night we were able to see the fireworks in Blackpool put on for the event.

Fireworks have been going off every night since last Thursday and now 2 days after the official Guy Fawkes Day things have quieted down significantly.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guy_Fawkes

Fish 'n Chips, Lights, and Roller Coasters

Last Saturday in the early afternoon, I headed to Blackpool with Amy, Lisa, Jo, and Paul (Lisa’s ex-boyfriend/Demi’s dad). It was about a two hour drive through windy country roads past Manchester and Liverpool. It is a seaside town—one of the most visited in the country. It is known for fish and chips, tacky lights, games, and rides. As we were driving through the English country-side I was able to do a lot of thinking. For one, I am still amazed at the natural beauty of this country. The grass is so green—shocking for a girl from the desert! I love watching the sheep grazing in the grass. I’m also still shocked sometimes that I am actually living in England. It still hasn’t hit me 100%. I also noticed how relived I was to get out of Buxton. I felt this huge weight lifting off me. It was a freeing afternoon!

We arrived around sunset (yes, the sun is setting around 4pm!) and Amy, Paul and I bought wristbands to ride the rides at Pleasure Beach. It is the English equivalent to Six Flags. The main attraction of Pleasure Beach is a roller coaster called The Big One which is the largest roller coaster in Europe! After going on a couple of rides including The Big One we walked down the boardwalk a way until we found more rides. Paul paid for Amy and I to do a bungee-esqe ride with him. In this particular ride you are strapped into a sphere and then catapulted into the air!!! It was terrific! I loved it! And I have it on DVD, just in case no one believes me!

After that thrill we searched out a place to get fish and chips. This was my first fish and chips experience. It’s nothing too spectacular, but no trip to Blackpool is complete without it! While we were eating our fish and chips we saw the fireworks put on for Guy Fawkes Day (more in a later blog). We then met up with Tammy, Matt, Demi and her friend Sarah, and Binod who had just arrived from Buxton in Blackpool. We went on a few more rides and then headed back to our cars to look at the illuminations.
Every year from the end of August to the beginning to November Blackpool puts on Illuminations along the boardwalk as a tourist attraction. They are very cheesy and tacky, but it was fun to see them none-the-less. After seeing the Illuminations we headed back to Buxton, arriving home around 1AM. It was a terrific day with friends, adrenaline and a nice escape from Buxton!

May I Have S'more, Please?

Tonight for "pudding" Amy and I made s'mores for our English friends. Everyone loved them, although they were messy and asked for more.

I thought it was funny making them with Cadbury's chocolate rather than Hershey's, but they were just as good! For the graham crackers and marshmallows, my parents sent them over in a care package! There is no equivalent for those over here! I was also really happy that I had some marshmallows left over for sweet potatoes for Thanksgiving!!!

It was so fun introducing everyone to something new.

7 Degrees of Kevin Bacon

Here is a very brief breakdown of people that I interact with on a regular basis or almost regular basis. Remember the game “7 Degrees of Kevin Bacon”? Well it seems that everyone in Buxton is connected to everyone else in less than 3 degrees! I suppose that is a side-effect of small-town living. And I’m sure with the copious amounts of people I’ve met since my arrival this list has probably forgotten someone!

From the House:
Amy: Is the other YAGM volunteer that came over with me. She graduated in May from Gustavus with a degree in religion. She is from Minnesota. She works at Charis House doing admin, office duty, and family support.
Binod: Is the volunteer from Nepal. He works at the farm. He has been here since January and will return home in December. He is hoping to find a job teaching English when he returns home.
Tammy: Is from Canada. She came to England about 3 years ago as a volunteer for Charis House. She returned because she made great friends and fell in love with Matt S.
Sue: Works for GNFC doing recovery work. She is married to Mick and they have 2 children in their late 20’s.
Mick: Is a high school (equivalent) physics teacher and the pastor for Buxton Community Church. He is married to Sue and they have 2 children. His sister is Tammy’s mom.

From Charis House:
Maia: Is my supervisor. She is a support worker at Charis House as well as one of the leaders for Little Fishes. She is married to Matthew P. and they have a 9 month old daughter, Bethany.
Naomi: is Roger and Hazel’s youngest daughter. She recently turned 18 and is in her last year of school.
Lisa: Works in the GNFC Nursery as well as at the farm. She has an 11 year old daughter, Demi.
Jo: Is a community support worker. She also started at Charis House as a volunteer and has been there ever since. In January she will be moving to Sheffield to study mental health nursing. She will be missed very much.
Keith/Debbie: Are half of the management team for GNFC and live in a flat in Charis House. They have four children: Jack (20), Roy (18), Anna (14), and Megan (11).
Roger/Hazel: Are the other half of the management team. They live in another flat in Charis House. They have 4 children. Their oldest son lives in Brazil and their younger son lives in South Korea. Both daughters live in Buxton.

From Women’s Group:
Sandy: Is a music teacher. She and her husband have 4 daughters. The oldest is studying viola in Oslo. The next oldest is studying English/Drama at university. The 2 younger daughters still live at home. They are a very musical family, often contributing their talents during church. She is also the gracious host of women’s group each week.
Avril: Is a very active member of BCC.
Susan: Is a community support client. She has 2 sons who live with their father in a near-by town.
Julie: Is a community support client. She has a daughter and a son, two cats and a dog.
Barbara: Is a community support client. She has 5 children and 2 grandchildren.
Brenda: Has 4 sons. She is currently raising her 13 year old granddaughter, Katie.

From Church:
Andy/Emily: Are responsible for the youth activities for BCC. Andy is a professional poet and Emily is a school teacher. Andy is also the manager for the Buxton Christian Football (soccer) club. They have 2 daughters: Connie (15) and Beth (13). They are delightful girls.
Allister/Sarah: Also very active in BCC. They have 2 daughters. Sarah’s sister is Emily. Sarah is also a school teacher.
Tim/Beryl: Tim is a carpenter. Beryl teaches first grade (equivalent). Beryl is our designated “TFG friend” and a great cook. They don’t have any children, but have unofficially adopted Rachel (35) who has asthma and related illnesses.
Matthew: Just started going to BCC. He is a culinary student at the University of Derby. He is the second oldest of 11 children.
Michael/Beky: They have 2 children together, Josh (7) and Abbie (5) and Matthew S is Michael’s son from his first marriage. Beky is Roger and Hazel’s oldest daughter. Michael works with Tim and Beky is in charge of Good News Nursery

From Little Fishes:
Sarah: Is a leader of Little Fishes. She is married to James and they have 3 children, Eleanor (4), Gregor (2), and Samuel (10 months). Her mother is Mary W. from Charis House. She used to work at the GNFC Nursery and is now a stay-at-home mom.
Nicola: Is a leader of Little Fishes. She is married to Matt B. and they have a 7 month old son, Joel. She also used to work at GNFC Nursery.
Maia: Is a leader of Little Fishes. She is married to Matthew P. and they have a 9 month old daughter, Bethany.

From Youth Group:
Nigel/Chriss: Are co-leaders of the youth group at the Good News Church in Whaley Bridge. They have three children, Thom (22), Alex (18), and Lizie (20). They graciously host me every Friday for dinner.
Thom: Is a music teacher at the college level. He also helps at a fairtrade store in town as well as youth group on Fridays. He is Nigel and Chriss’ oldest son.
Rob: Helps with youth group. He works for the railways and is married to Cheryl and they have three sons aged, 4,3, and 2!

As you can see there is a lot of over-lapping in social circles.