HAPPY PERUVIAN INDEPENDENCE DAY!!!!!!! Annnnnnnnnnnnnnndddddddddd, Happy birthday to my wonderful Father! I hope he's having lots of fun in Peru, and partying like it's hot, oh, and like it's 1961. What a wonderful year, haha.
In celebration, Sarah and I had devoted this whole month to cooking Authentic Peruvian Cuisine (because, Sarah is that Great), and as you will remember, it has been a great month of food. Because Peruvian Food is the best. We have made Papa a la Huancaina, Tallarin Saltado, Aguadito, Estofado, and we invited our Branch President's family to eat one of Peru's signature dishes: Lomo Saltado. We had invited a whole lot more people, but it was still a super awesome night. But that's not all, Sarah also made a Peruvian purple corn drink called Chicha Morada, and a signature Peruvian dessert, Mazza Morada. All super authentic. We have one or two more dishes we want to try for the month, Causa Rellena and a type of fried chicken with a green rice and chicken that has a tint of green, mostly from Cilantro.
Having the President's family over was super fun. It was President Castaneda and his wife, Miriam, and their two kids, Loy and Eddie. We played three games that I remembered that I had learned either from my dad or in Peru. One is a hand game called Pingparagayo???? that we always had fun playing as kids with our dad whenever he was willing. Another I learned which has the name of Wingardium Leviosa and the other was Zorrillo (Skunk), both of which were card games. Super fun night. I also told stories of having gone to Peru, and of course wore my Peruvian jersey throughout the course of the meal. Sarah was super good at explaining the meal's secrets. There were a lot of things that I found out that I actually need to learn about Peru, even more than I know. Stuff like the significance of the colors on the flag or the items in the Seal of Peru. It's never too late to learn more about one's heritage, nor help educate people about the diversity and the beauties of the world we live in.
It was so nice to have been invited by Aunt Ann to a dinner with the Williams family and Susan and Dana, who were actually visiting on their way to the funeral of Uncle Lloyd. Aunt Ann also had the opportunity to hitch a ride with them. It was a really fun time to catch up with family. We all sat around the table of a less than busy IHOP. We tried two other places to no avail, having been Friday and everywhere else was super busy. Breakfast for dinner and great company was great. Can't wait to have another Arizona gathering. We heard that Peter, Ann's friend, may be a likely candidate in hosting it next (as we were the last to do so a couple months ago). It was good to hear from Gracie, who had just returned from Provo EFY, and who is going to be starting the big ole' High School in two-ish weeks. We also got to hear about Dana and Susan's kids as well. It seems like things are doing so good for them.
Otherwise, just a week of work and fun with Sarah as we navigate life together on this windy road we call life.
I could write more, but time permitting, I hope this suffices. I did write a whopping letter last time.
Welcome to all those who have been added to the email list. I hope you are all doing good.
Love,
John Gonzales
