Is everyone excited for Christmas??!! I feel like a kid this year - counting down the days! I blame it on the fact that last year, I was in Guinea, where it was 90 degrees. Last year, it was hard to listen to White Christmas without dreaming of a normal American holiday season. I was staying with my boyfriend for the holidays in Conakry, and his host family knocked on our door on Christmas Eve and gave us freshly-knocked-off-the-tree coconuts. They said, "we know this is a holiday for you, so, Joyeux Noel (Merry Christmas)" It was so sweet. I just reread my blog entry from last year, and I realize how simple life was, and how happy I was. But still, it wasn't Christmas.

Without our families and traditions, it didn't really feel like Christmas. But this year is different. I am cooking Christmas Eve dinner at my mom's, and I am so excited! Here's the menu:

**Starter salad with arugula, shaved parmesan, pomegranite seeds, and a balsamic-orange vinaigrette**

**Roasted chicken with proscuitto-herbed butter, mashed potatoes, and proscuitto and goat cheese wrapped asparagus**

**Homemade apple tart a la mode for dessert**

I can't wait!! Plus the Christmas music, the gifts, the festive mood! And then on Christmas morning, my mom, Reid and I are going skiing! What a treat! I am so excited - more excited for Christmas than the last multiple years combined! I think it may have taken me a year away from my home in order to truly appreciate my family in my life, if that makes any sense.

I still wish I could be with my entire extended family. I have missed them more and more as the holidays have passed. Hopefully soon, I can figure out the $ and the time for a trip to good ol' Wheeling.

I hope everyone else is enjoying the holidays. Merry Christmas!!!

I have found my leaf sauce

Last night, after a long day of skiing, Reid and I went to our newest favoritest Indian place. As I was contemplating what to get, I asked Reid, "do I feel like a saag?"

"Ewww... that's just leaf sauce! But with spinach, not sweet potato leaves." he replied. As many of you know, I LOOOOOVVED leaf sauce in Guinea. I would buy the ingredients for my family weekly so I could be guaranteed my favorite sauce once a week. I have missed it dearly since I have left. I have not tried to make it, as I don't know where to get manioc or sweet potato leaves. Lately, I have had dreams about slicing leaves in my hand with my family and eating leaf sauce over rice with my hand.

So, I ordered the aluu saag, and ate leaf sauce once again. It was a different leaf sauce, and I ate it with a fork, but it satisfied that craving, and I am happy.

Interesting article on irrigating the desert

Timbuktu's Climate Change Fight

Eucalyptus, eh? I am always amazed by man's ability to overcome geography and climate. With appropriate investment and work, impoverished, land-locked nations may be able to overcome thier unlucky locales.

Hotel Rwanda

Last night, Reid and I watched Hotel Rwanda, which was probably a bad idea.

After seeing Guinea fall apart for a couple of weeks last January--going to sleep to the sound of gunfire, seeing the black smoke of protestors, and living the chaos that is African political change--watching true war/genocide was a bit much. I think it just hit too close to home.

Interestingly enough, I only cried at one part - when the foreigners abandon the Rwandans. All the white people with their passports rush to get on busses to evacuate, and Paul learns that the rest of the world does not care and will not send any intervention forces. I think deep sentiments of guilt still linger in my heart, as I abandoned my family and friends for safety. And then for the American life. And I have yet to go back.