Happy Independce Day, America!

I can now add this to my lists of firsts:

 

Celebrating America’s Independence Day in another country.

 

It was just SO strange.

 

The morning started off with church.  Except, the English service had been cancelled.  So, Ben and I found ourselves going to the Tok Pisin service.  It was a nice service.  I always love singing in the trade language of PNG.  But, then came time for announcements.  The community had planned a potluck for that evening….basically a 4^th of July potluck, but it was called a community “bung” (or party) to be “politically correct”.  Now, in order to announce the potluck, you have to be able to speak good Tok Pisin.  So, who volunteered to announce it?  A Brit!  So there I sat….4^th of July morning….at a service in a completely different language than my own….only to hear the announcement of my country’s independence day party by a man from England.  How great is that?? The look in his eye as he wished our country a “Happy Independence Day” was priceless.  It really set the day off right.   I have come a long way….all this coming from the girl who looked at an Australian and asked, “So you don’t celebrate Thanksgiving?”  Seriously, you can’t make this stuff up!

 

The rest of the morning was spent watching the Germany vs. Argentina World Cup game….another multi-national experience.

 

THEN…..for the sake of my sanity, we accepted the invitation to a smaller party….American style.  No fireworks, but we had sparklers and steel wool.  Steel Wool is like a Brillo Pad….just different….if you light it on fire….the coolest things happen.

 

Hope you had a great 4^th of July.  And, if you ever get a chance to celebrate it in another country….it will be worth it!  The only thing that would have made the night better….would have been an American Coke…but, alas….the store is out of those….and the American shipment of groceries has been delayed for a LONG time. 

 

Hope you enjoy the pictures.