Holiday Parties

Dave and I have been getting our share of holiday goodies by attending multiple holiday parties. They're really Christmas parties and most of them are referred to as such, but the one labeled as a "holiday party" started with a Christian prayer and had exclusively Christian holiday music playing. All the government buildings are decorated for Christmas and so are the shopping malls. Once again, we started the holiday season by going to Havensight's Christmas tree lighting party about 2 weeks ago. We kept our visit shorter than last year, just going for the local food sold by various people at booths setup just for the evening. We had tamarind juice, a salt fish pate, a lobster roti, fried shark and johnny cakes. For dessert we picked up a coconut sugar cake and potato pudding. Potato pudding is like bread pudding, but it's made from sweet potatoes and usually has some spice. Very tasty.

On Thursday last week, the court holiday party took place at lunchtime. My co-clerks and I were forced to sing the local version of 12 Days of Christmas. But we were rewarded handsomly with plenty of food including my favorites: potato stuffing, guavaberry and coconut tarts, and sweet bread (island's version of fruit cake, usually served with ham, as we experienced earlier in the week at an office birthday party). In the evening, Dave and I went to a law firm's party - they invite the entire bar and all the judges and law clerks. One of the partners was very excited to meet me - she and I are the only Boalt alum in the territory. She moved here for the same clerkship I've got now, and she never left (something we've considered on many occasions but decided against). Dave and I filled up on appetizers and champagne and listened to a calypso band from St. John.

Friday was the true pre-Christmas party on the island - Miracle on Mainstreet. We went a bit later than last year, as I got stuck at work, so we missed the lighted boat parade, and some of the vendors' food was cold. But we did get to enjoy saltfish cakes, saltfish pates, coconut sugar cake, and a tamarind ball. I indulged in a jello shot too. You may recall we've mentioned the absence of any law restricting open containers of alcohol in public, and the fact that juice or soda general costs more than beer. It was a very jovial atmosphere that reminded me a little of Carnival, but the temperature was so much cooler than last April. There was plenty of dancing in the streets both by organized groups such as the Quadrille Dancers and by everyone else who couldn't help but sway to the various steel drum bands. As one ad for Miracle on Main Street said: "The [UVI] Pan Panthers will offer steel-drum renditions of such classics as Jingle Bells, The Little Drummer Boy, Silent Night, and the local favorite, Mama Bake de Johnny Cake."

With all these parties, we're working hard to avoid the holiday weight gain. Living in the tropics, we don't have the excuse that we need the extra layers for the winter! Dave and I ran about 5 miles this morning up and down a hilly road that took us to many scenic overlooks along the way. It's quite rewarding to climb one of the tougher hills and have a view of the British Virgin Islands on one side and Magen's Bay and various cays on the other side. At the end of a long run like that, it's imperative to jump into the ocean at Magen's Bay to cool off. This morning was the first time I actually got chilled in the water after a run. It must have been a brisk 78 degrees! The air temp has been around 75 in the mornings, but it still climbs to 85 during the day fairly easily! Don't worry about us though - we've got our winter clothes and we're keeping warm!