I celebrate English democracy (?) and get in touch with my Asian side (?!)

Yes, life is a surprisingly multi-cultural experience here in the sleepy English countryside.  Or maybe it's just owing to the fact my daily crowd here is comprised of the English, Taiwanese, Australian, Korean and American.  

In any case, Friday found me and my Asian home-girls in Canterbury for a bit (just a VERY LITTLE bit) of shopping.  It's amazing how restorative a little frivolous retail can be - no offense to the Hastingleigh cows, of course.  With a certain recklessness abandon, we made our way down the row of shops, trying on as many items, sniffing as many fragrances, petting as many pretty shoes, and sampling all the chocolates we could manage in the two brief hours of empty-headed commercialism allotted for the day.  It was hedonistic heaven.

We paused our retail revels long enough at lunchtime to stop in at Wagamama, a Japanese/Asian fusion chain that serves pretty tasty/quick food.  Ko-Yu and So-Yun had been singing its praises with semi-religious fervor since we arrived, so naturally, we had to check it out.

So-Yun and I eagerly anticipate my lunch (finally pho!)

Our more patient and lady-like lunch companions across the table

As Saturday was the 5th of November, we participated in the village's annual Guy Fawkes Day/Bonfire Night celebration.  For those who need an explanation, it's an English commemoration of the apprehension of Guy Fawkes and friends in 1605, who were plotting to blow up Parliament and kill James I.  How does one celebrate this momentous occasion?  You blow stuff up and reenact killing Guy Fawkes.

This bonfire was MASSIVE, and you can just barely see the rather small, leaning, stuffed representation of the hated Mr. Fawkes on the bottom left.

You've heard don't mess with Texas, but really don't mess with the British.  They're still burning this guy in effigy 400 years later. 

The evening started off with a gathering outside the pub, from where we all proceeded (through the mud and wet of a very soggy night) to the farm just outside the village that hosts the festivities every year in a large empty field on the hillside.  I got the sense that, much like our American 4th of July, this celebration is a convenient historical excuse to get together, blow things up and enjoy rather more beers and sausages than you would otherwise.

So-Yun and Jenny support the village till with hot dogs and soup at concessions

The festivities get underway overhead

Besides being a very damp and windy evening, it was a very enjoyable one.  One of the whist ladies introduced Jenny and I to another American who lives in the village.  He's from Salt Lake City originally, and he and his young family have been here a year for his work.  We received a very kind invitation for Thanksgiving, so in addition to Studio Thanksgiving, Jenny and I may get two Turkey-Days this year when we worried at first we'd have none!

I also met the vicar, so my night was pretty much complete!

Much love,
KEB