Breakfast for dinner after class

Friday morning I woke up feeling like I was coming down with a cold, but hoping that it wasn't so. I did some lesson prep for my Institute class while Dee went out and shopped at Conad, the downstairs farmers market and the local Chinese stores. We both enjoyed the smoked buffalo cheese I bought. Great stuff. She bought a new rolling shopping cart, since the old one (which predates the Thackers) is worn out and coming apart. The new one is identical, just a different color (blue instead of red). We use it a lot for local shopping.

She didn't find any sausage at Conad, so we would need to go to Lidl for the third time, where she would find only one. We aren't sure if this is sausage-eating season or what, as she never had a problem finding it before. So she bought some bacon to supplement the sausage she had already found. While she went into Lidl, I stayed in the car so that I could rest.

Using a different browser (Microsoft Edge this time), I was able to submit my Aetna insurance claim for the chiropractor visits that helped me so much. Now we will see how they pay. It was still worth it if I pay for it myself, but it will be nicer if the insurance kicks in. The church provides very inexpensive health insurance for senior missionaries through Aetna, which is a necessity abroad. Dee had good luck with it when she broke her foot, so there shouldn't be a problem.

Soon after we got to the Institute, Sammy arrived. He helped carry stuff up, which was needed, and then he hung around to talk for a while before heading over the the Friendship Center. We each had things to do: lesson prep for me and tons of cooking for Dee, so we enjoyed visiting with him while doing other stuff. Dee spent every minute of the afternoon and evening working on rice pudding (a snack for my Seminary kids), baked french toast, sausage, bacon, and oranges. For a while the timing was looking tight, but she pulled it off, with a bunch of food that was delicious. She actually over provided, which takes some doing with our crowd, and we would bring some of the french toast home to the four Sorelle now living beneath us.

Baked French toast prep

Sausage cooking

Trial batch of french toast -- yum!

There was no transit strike this week, thank goodness, but it was still a school holiday (All Souls Day), so we didn't know what to expect. Turnout was good, fortunately. I had eight kids in my Seminary class, missing a few regulars. We had a brief lesson on keeping an eternal perspective and then some scripture games, which they always enjoy. Parker came for the first time. It's a great way for the kids from many wards to get to know each other and reinforce each others' testimony. Doug does an incredible job.

 

Samuel came in with his laptop before Institute class to get some help with Pathway. I didn't have much time between lessons, but I spent half an hour as his English speaking partner anyway. He has such a great attitude. Here is how it works. He reads me some quotes, twice. The first time we go over vocabulary and pronunciation, and the second time he explains what the quotes mean and we discuss them. The whole process takes 30 minutes. It is always interesting to see what sounds are difficult for folks from a different country. His English actually isn't bad, but the sounds he uses make it hard for us to understand. For example, he cannot easily make the "th" sound, so we worked on that and he finally got it right a few times. We laughed and high-fived. Surprisingly to me, he also could not make the "ur" sound, as in "urgent". It always came out more as "or", even after many tries with me trying to show him how my mouth made the sound. I really enjoyed helping him.

Institute class started 10 minutes late, as usual, with only a handful of kids, as usual 😊. Aysha brought her roommate, Lauren, and Sammy translated my lesson into English for those two and for Joshua, the artist here working on the temple murals. The kids kept trickling in, and by the end of the lesson the classroom was completely full. We also had three kids online via Zoom. There was a lively discussion, with comments and questions, as we covered D&C 30-36, 39-40. I spent a little time giving them some historical background on the people to whom the revelations were directed. I felt pretty good about the lesson when it was all over. 

Dee's dinner was very popular. Kids really liked putting caramel, chocolate, or maple syrup on their french toast (or even all three!). Caramel is a flavor that doesn't exist here, so it was a special treat. With two huge pans full, everyone got plenty. After dinner the party was on. We left about 10pm, leaving Jomar in charge.

 

 

 

 

 

By this point in the evening, I was very tired, but with no more cold symptoms. Hopefully that will mean that I dodged a bullet, which would be surprising after Dee and Karen were around me with colds. The other senior couples here have a local sightseeing trip planned Saturday morning, which we will join if I am feeling ok. Often the adrenaline from teaching gives me lots of energy for a while, so the jury is out on whether I will get sick. Stay tuned.

Baked French Toast was a new dish. I had never made it before and they had never heard of it. The elders were grinning ear to ear to have an American-style breakfast. It was a minor miracle that it turned out so well. It's not a good idea to experiment with a dinner for thirty people. It took 40 eggs! The big surprise was the bacon. It was not salty! What is up with that?! So, I started furiously salting it during the cooking. The kids loved it anyway. It turns out only guanciale is salty. This was pancetta, and looked just like thick-cut bacon. When I cooked it, it didn't stay red, but instead turned brown. 

Tobia showed up after class and hit it off with Sammy. I hope he continues to join us.

Sister Aranas (whose icon is a pineapple because the Italian word is Ananas), showed up with her new companion. Sister Boscia is from Palermo, so the companionship has TWO native speakers. Wow. 

Both Sister Boscia and Sammy had stomach aches, and Sammy told me ginger is good for that. I happened to have herbal tea with ginger in it, so they both had some. Italians know a lot more about digestion than the typical American. They also know where each cut of meat comes from on the animal. Amazing.

After teaching two lessons, Doug dove in to wash dishes. That man is a dynamo. And Nathan offered to help, so I had him clean the griddle. Great guy. 

Ugo was going to come, but their hot water heater wasn't working and they probably won't have hot water for the entire weekend. He stayed home to help with the hassle and stress.

I had planned to roast some vegetables and a turkey for ourselves for the weekend, but there was never time. It's Fast Sunday, so we're not eating much anyway.

Mom's doctor is amazing, phoning me personally with info about the blood pressure cuff she wanted us to buy for Mom. We all love her. She is warm and expert.

In the morning, Dad asked Jim for the key to the Toyota. Jim carefully found out what Dad wanted to do, and drove him around to see his rentals. Jim is a jewel, and Dad was satisfied.