This weekend, Jerard invited a
couple of us to go to a Braai at his co-workers house. After arriving back from
the beach earlier that Saturday, we had to quickly get dressed for the event in
very short time. Colleen, the woman that Jerard personally works with, had come
to pick all five of us up from our house to bring us to her Braai. Of course, I
was so excited not only to try amazing home-cooked food (which is always the
best), but excited to be around the company of friends and family.
When we arrived to her home, we
introduced ourselves to the company that had already arrived. While some were
in the kitchen beginning the preparation of the foods, others were outside by
the braai pit. Meeting everyone was so much fun, conversation was so flowing
and I wasn’t interviewed with questions, I just felt a part of the environment
I was in.
I have to say, this experience definitely made
me think of my family back home because when it’s the summer, we barbeque at
parties, and there is never an official end time to anything, we just go when
we feel that the day is done. Also, my family makes everyone feel very welcomed
and we often invite close friends to family functions very often. There’s no
exclusion, everyone is always welcomed and I really appreciated Colleen
inviting us to share food and memories with her co-workers, friends, family,
and community.
When I walked outside, there was
a huge table set up with snacks and an open backyard and all the kids played
games while Snook and other traditional foods were being cooked. Basically,
from start to finish, there wasn’t a point that we didn’t have food in front of
us. This also made me think of home because there is always an abundance of
food! To speak briefly about the food, it was so tasty! The Snook was so tender
and flavorful and on top of all the foods, Colleen made Curry towards the end
of the night.
Throughout the party, I had some
of the best conversations, surrounded by the best of people. We met this one
woman that was a fashion designer. She explained to us that she learned from
her mother how to sew and work with clothing because her mom worked at a
factory when she was growing up. She passed on her skills to her and her
passion was born. She was so prideful of her career, and was even personally
wearing a shirt she made (as well as Colleen). I loved that she totally pursued
a career because she was passionate about it. I feel as if back home, people
are often discouraged to pursue careers that seem hard to make something out
of. Usually these careers are ones that fall within the arts, but she made it
work. This gave me all the more motivation to do what really makes me happy,
whatever that may be.
As the night was slowly coming to
an end, we decided to dance and then eat Curry! Therefore, we kept the party
going! But after we all enjoyed the last hour of the company, we gave out our
hugs and walked to the car. As Colleen reversed in the driveway and drove out,
I rolled my window down and waved to the group of people that decided to come
outside from the house to say goodbye to us. I really hope that memories such
as that don’t end, and that somehow I will see them again but regardless, I
know that experience will always have place in my heart.
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| Brianna, Janiel, Larissa, Wylie, Ainsley, Allie |
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