braai vs barbecue

this moment outside epitimises life in kensington – street closed off [each block has a block captain which is really cool cos encourages community and they have the right at certain times to officially close off the road and make a block party happen], fire hydrant spewing water into the street, little kids playing in that water, at least three barbecue/braai type structures cooking up a storm, neighbours sharing food, music pumping [somewhere in the middle of a best of michael jackson cd at the moment, usually more hip-hip dodgy lyric fare so this is a welcome change], most of the families out sitting on stairs, laughing vibing, kids running down road, some basketball being thrown across the road, three porta pools filled with splashing laughing kids, shane walking around offering a plate of watermelon to the neighbours having been one of the barbecue/braai protagonists and my little friend adriana offering me sesame seeds and a bit of corn… great times…

earlier we were packaging some cookies that were donated a while ago and had been frozen so heated them up [mint in them but the mint here is red – interesting but tastes great] and stuck cute little ribbons on the packs which will be added to the food packs that get distributed closer to half past four…

then heading to the bus stop to pick up some new people who will be staying with us [in the hospitality house] for the next month and getting involved here – and then we will be heading out later to a party on the philly art museum [Rocky movie steps] steps with a couple of bands [earth, wind, and fire, Dj Jazzy Jeff and others – yup certified A list of American culture] and a huge fireworks display… gonna be a party, but in the meantime i will be heading back outside to rejoin the one already on.

block party

so apparently it’s a summer thing here, but virtually every day mid afternoon the road blocking signs come up on the corner where we live and someone opens the fire hydrant and water pours out onto the street and the party begins…

all the neighbours end up sitting on their steps or bringing chairs out, the barbecues are brought out, tables of cake and snacks and other food appear, fireworks are set off and the partying begins…

kids get absolutely drenched in the water, someone goes behind the hydrant and directs it at everyone else, other kids ride bikes up and down the road and LOUD music gets pumped towards the heavens…

an absolute vibe, and after wild goose fest this week we are definitely going to be getting more involved in those – already have a choir of “hey Fish and Valerie” when we walk down the street from a bunch of the younger kids so are really starting to feel at home – working hard on the name and face recognition so that we can build relationships better…

very will smith ‘summertime’ vibe…