I should start this post with the disclaimer that I have a slightly over-the-top passion for Christmas. As my father's daughter, I'm up for any excuse for a party really, and Christmas is no exception.
So when the idea was borne that we should get the Hanoian AYAD volunteers together for Christmas, I was naturally pretty excited. In fact, the very next day I got busy putting together this invitation:
I sent it out to all of the AYAD volunteers in Vietnam, and encouraged people to invite any additional friends/housemates/lovers/other that might be interested in joining the festive fun. I promised a turkey and a ham and pudding, which upon reflection was a little ambitious given that our kitchen consists of 3 rice bowls, 4 spoons and no oven - but the more the merrier right? After a couple of weeks it looked like there would be about 15 of us. How exciting! Not wanting anyone to miss out on the action, I sent out a reminder email for any possible late RSVPers.
And then there were 37...
So without carrying on for too long, that is how Christmas turned into a large scale, catered event - complete with two 7kg imported turkeys, eight boiled Christmas puddings, and engineer consultation regarding the structural integrity of our rooftop. It was all very United Nations, with representation from Canada, Norway, France, Czechoslovakia, America, Vietnam, and of course Australia. Coordinating the feast became a virtual second job for my good friend Georgie and I, and we loved every minute of it! I'll let the pics tell the story.
The ten step guide to feeding 37 hungry expat orphans a
traditional Christmas feast (in Hanoi).
 |
Step one: two nights prior to Christmas, prep 8kg ham ready
for basting. 9pm is a good time to start. |
|
|
|
 |
Step two: at midnight, after basting ham for 2.5 hours like the Hanoian
butcher told you to, do some quick Google research and realise that you
actually have a fresh ham that requires cooking for 7 hours. | | | |
|
|
|
 |
| Step three: begin basting and sleeping in 45 minute shifts. |
 |
Step four: complete epic ham basting episode at 4am, ready
to go to the wholesale flower markets at 5am. |
 |
Step five: head to wholesale flower market dressed like complete tourists,
signalling that you are ready to pay twice as much as the locals do. |
 |
| Quang An flower market, Hanoi. |
 |
Step six: (Christmas Eve) get yourself in the mood for Christmas with
traditional carols like "Twinkle, twinkle little star" (?) at St Joseph's Cathedral. |
 |
Step seven: it's Christmas!! Get to work like good Christmas
elves should. |
 |
Step eight: Enlist all of the strong Tay men
you know to help prep the party space... |
 |
Make strong Tay men do ridiculous things - like scale the walls to hang pretty stars -
"But I WANT them higher..." |
 |
| "Higher..." |
 |
Step nine: grab a glass of bubbles, relax,
and wait for the expat orphans to arrive... |
 |
Step ten... enjoy!
|
 |
| Did I mention I love Christmas? |
 |
| Expat orphans lining up to be fed. |
 |
| Kris Kringle excitement... |
 |
| Cobra rice wine - the perfect Kris Kringle gift! |
 |
| Leftover cold meat sandwiches keep a crowd at Christmas. |
 |
| Two very happy party planning elves. |
 |
Step eleven (the one we forgot about): wake up
on boxing day to find the post -party carnage. |
 |
You know it's been a successful Christmas party when...
your cleaning up a dead cobra amongst the pudding bowls. |
