New Traditions?

 One of the fun things about being in South Asia is getting to experience all the new holidays that we don't celebrate in America, like Diwali. Another is getting to learn to celebrate our traditional American holidays in a whole new way!

 Last night we created a "Fall Friday". I say created because there is still no sign of fall here. Yes, Praise the Lord, our weather is beginning to cool (upper 80's this week), but still no leaves changing or costumes being sold, or fun pack candy being bought. But there is something so fun about getting together with friends and creating the mood of Fall.

Two rickshaw rides and a metro ride later, we made it to our friends house. We decided to go to the Friday night market and gather our supplies. We weren't really sure if we were going to find a pumpkin, but not only did we find a pumpkin we found other unsuspecting veggies to carve. (bonus to living here)

 We made it back to the house to realize that of the three pumpkins we bought only one of them had made it home with us. Oops! No worries, when the boys started retracing their steps they found our little man had them waiting for us asking if we were ready for them yet. Yea for the lost pumpkins being found!

 We had two new friends with us who were carving pumpkins for the first time. We caught ourselves laughing all through the night at their comments. Example: We asked our new friend, "What do you call this? (pointing to the pumpkin) She responded with slowly sounding out "P U M P K I N". really? I feel so much better now that we know that.  hehe.  She also ended up giving all our pumpkins names. My favorite was the one we tried to name "Fraidy Cat", because he looked scared/afraid. All night she referred to him as "Frito". We had to explain to her that a frito is an American corn chip not a pumpkin!

(Left to right: Fraidy Cat/Frito, Jack, Hairy, Mickey Mouse, Julia Roberts, Larry the Cucumber, and Jim Carrey)
 We ended the night with homemade (from a box, thank you Lydia!) candy apples. This was a new experience for us all. We learned a lot to perfect the process for next year.

 That's right.... We had such at our Fall Friday that we have already begun the planning for next year. Our national friends also enjoyed their first experience with Halloween. Her facebook status this morning made me laugh so hard. It reads..."My first Halloween was great, I didn't know that I am such a great killer. Chopping the head of a brinjal is such a pleasure. I know why American's love to carve and chop the vegetables now! It's a serious business! And today we plan to eat the mickey mouse..."

I'm also foreseeing Christmas gingerbread houses!

 Happy Fall! Happy Halloween!