Dinner with the next door neighbor

Here in icetown we have only one other house in the neighborhood- the kiwis (these are people from New Zealand if you didn't know). Scott Base is located just over the pass with a small mountain seperating us from our jolly neighbors. I have gotten to know a few of them lately, and I really enjoy getting to shoot the breeze with them and learn new phrases from them. I am also realizing that I speak American, not English. Anyway, a Kiwi buddy named Scott invited me over for dinner the other night and I immediately accepted. This is considered a huge honor, because Kiwis only ask close friends over for dinner. This base is very small a well-kept, kind of a dorm and a commune all in one. We shot the breeze for hours talking about Scott's last thirteen months on the ice and the things he has experienced here. After eating a great home-cooked Chinese meal and getting a tour of the place I came to a realization...we long for neighbors, people we can take our shoes off with, kick back, relax, and slow down. It was truly one of my best nights here and certainly very relaxing. It's the little things I miss here. Somehow I never realized the privilage it is to have neighbors or friends over for dinner until I got down here. On a side note, I believe the Kiwis have taken over sole possession of first place for my favorite people group. I have no idea why people from a certain country are named after a special bird, but I guess that makes sense to them. In conclusion, you're all invited to our place for dinner when I return!