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December 21, 2003, Staff Party, by Jim

Trying to tell this story about a moving, meaningful experience, in relatively few words, I find mostly the feelings that go with it.

Christmas Party Guests.

At our regular Tuesday meeting, we say to the staff it would be nice to have a Christmas staff party. They look puzzled and doubtful. No one in this valley, we learn later, has ever done such a thing. They agree to try it, and to bring their families. We begin planning, Chris, Theresa and Victoria baking and cooking. Alfred suggests Zulu dancers; it turns out that he is one of the stars. We agree to limit the alcohol; many Zulu men have problems with alcohol. Gradually the plans fall into place. Chris and I worry: will there be problems we can’t anticipate, is this smart, what if they don’t like the food or we don’t have enough, what if it rains?

The party is Sunday the 21st. None of them usually work on Sunday, but we see Alfred up early proudly washing the truck. He drives, the two of us traveling through light rain, off the highway, then off the secondary road onto a single lane track to the village 40 km. away. Finally, we are beyond any road, driving on grass to the top of the ridge where Alfred’s family live. With his wife, children and mother, Victoria, her parents and two of her children, there are fourteen in a truck that seats five. The youngest is 9 months, the oldest mid-70’s. Those in the box cover themselves to keep dry.

Zulu Dancing.

With the dancers, there are around 40 of us at our house. We have rented “The Lion King” in Zulu for the children. The rest of us sit and mingle and try to talk. We are the only white people and most of the others have no English. The day is cold, but the feeling is warm and there is lots of laughter. We all watch the dancing, the Zulu people ululating and clapping, Chris and I joining in. Then we eat and visit some more. People thank us over and over. It feels good: we have shared something important, we have come to understand more about each other.

By the time we take people home, rain is pouring, so Alfred’s wife and children stay the night with him so that none of the others has to ride in the box. We almost don’t make it to the ridge top because of the mud and slick, but everyone gets home safely. Next morning we do the trip again with the rest of his family. Chris and I are tired, elated, satisfied. We all know each other so much better than before. Celebrating together has changed our relationships. We will do this again.

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