When was the last time you introduced someone to pizza or football? Even more, when was the last time that happened in a single evening? That was the case with Papa Kasongo in our last visit. There were no pressing issues that needed us to help with. So, we decided to have dinner together. Marinda and many of the kids and Mama Kasongo went to buy Little Ceasar’s Pizza while Papa Kasongo, my brother in law (visiting with us), and a few of the kids stayed behind. With the weather starting to pull out of winter, we had brought an American football and showed Papa Kasongo how to throw it, catch it, and play a little game of two hand touch football. It was a challenge to teach him even the most basic rules of football with the language barrier, but we were able to explain the concept and play a few downs of football back and forth. How fun to see him experiencing this for the first time! And how rewarding to introduce him to some entertainment and an American sport, one that his sons may well find themselves playing as they get older.
The game was interrupted as the pizza brigade returned. Apparently the pizza store was giving away balloons, because the kids returned with balloons in tow, quickly popping some of them on the grass. Inside, we set the table with paper plates we’d brought, made some dip for carrot sticks, and set down the boxes. Some of the kids had eaten pizza at school and already knew they would enjoy it. Mama and Papa Kasongo had never tried it before. They each ate a piece or two. It was difficult to tell whether they liked it or not. Papa Kasongo communicated what I think was “this is a heavy food”. And, that’s certainly true. As we’ve observed the leftovers of their dinners on occasion when we arrive or looked in their fridge, they tend to eat more traditional foods – rice, corn meal, lots of vegetables, fish, chicken. It’s interesting to see them learning and trying new foods.
We had a fun visit! And it was fun to spend time relaxing with them!