A total goat roast

Last night, some of the newer arrivals from the Embassy as well as a bunch of NGO workers got together, and we roasted a small goat. It was pretty awesome -- one of the NGO guys had picked it up on his way back from Afar region, and when he got back to Addis he strung it up and butchered it. The resulting chops were small enough that they could fit into a single bowl.

We got a couple of rather meaty chickens (at least by Ethiopian standards) and some veggies and set to work. My colleague hosting the party built a bonfire in his driveway, and placed some sort of giant steel plate over it -- the thing is like an enormous wok, probably 3 feet in diameter. Toss in some beer, spices, and a healthy amount of olive oil, and you've got a party.

Now, my asparagus is well known back in the states as being the best you can possibly eat -- now we're international. I cooked up the asparagus as well as some sweet red onions that someone managed to find. It was amazing; better vegetables than I've ever had at the Sheraton. The goat turned out pretty good as well; a little tough to get off the bone, so you had to rip it with your teeth like a feral dog. Nothing a few toothpicks later on can't fix.

Anyway, this swiss guy dressed like a club kid shows up. Now, he didn't work at the Embassy, nor did he work for the NGO all these people were with. In fact, I can't really figure out who he knew or how he got there. But by the end of the night he was drunk and serenading us with his violin. He was actually pretty good (though a little out of tune at times). He spoke better Italian than he did english, and surprisingly after 10 years since the last time I took Italian, I actually understood most of what he was saying.

It was a great way to end a very stressful week, and despite some rain earlier in the day, we caught a break just long enough for me to get home nice and dry (and the second I closed my front door, it started pouring again.) All in all, a great weekend.