Braai and Brandy

In other parts of the world you might bring Marlboros, but here the proverbial offering for new friends in distant lands is brandy. I bought a bottle over a week before this trip in the giddy hope of raising a few with Bongs's elders, and I got my wish. His uncle Patrick and his father, Desmond, came to the house tonight for a proper get together, a big cast iron pot of pap in hand. They both speak fine English, so we were able to jump the language barrier and spend time learning about each other's history (they also taught us quite a bit of Xhosa). Highlights included learning that Patrick, in his fifties, has seven daughters, and is trying to convince his wife to have one more because (1) he really wants an even number (2) really wants a boy, and also that the word "kwazela," spoken emphatically (kwah-ZAY-la), means "to make fire right." Given my rusty scoutsmanship and the unforgiving local wood, it took me three days to earn that verb.