The real truth is that Christmas did not visit me this year. When the people around you don't celebrate, any day can just become a regular day. Even though we didn't celebrate Christmas it was still hard for me being away from my family, as I knew in the back of my head, that everyone was opening gifts and being with family. I skyped my family a few times and it felt as though I was watching a movie, for I knew something was happening yet it didn't seem real. I saw the living room decorated in wrapping paper and all of my aunts, uncles, cousins and grandparents, yet it was as if it were a dream and when I hit the "end call" button I am brought back into reality. The reality of me being in a different family for 10 months and living a different life.
I've had battles with myself over whether or not skype has been a good or bad thing. It has been amazing for the fact that I get to see the faces of my family, because if I didn't get to see them for 10 months they would become strangers to me. Yet on the other had it has been bad...I shouldn't say bad, its just been difficult for me to "participate" in things. For example, I was skyping with my family when it came time to celebrate my 5-year old cousins birthday, its hard watching my family do things that I am normally a part of.
When it comes to Christmas here, Christmas eve is usually the more celebrated day/night. Here they have the Reyes Magos, which are the three kings who come the 6th of January. Some families celebrate just Christmas, others just Los Reyes or both. I've heard from people that the Reyes are better because there are three of them so they bring more presents. I guess that one is definitely a preference.
For Christmas Eve we had a big family dinner and then Ana and I went out with her cousin to one of her friends house's and danced and just hung out.
When you go out to a party, what time do you usually go out? Maybe 8 or 9...how about 1:30am? Yes folks I pulled my first all-night-er. I officially got in bed around 6am but fell asleep around 5am on a sofa at the party. It was quite the night, however partying all night its not really my thing, I would much rather prefer to sleep. And to add to that I'm not a big group person, even more so with people I don't know.
A bunch of the girls on the team came to the camp for a sleepover on the 25th which was quite entertaining, and it helped me realize something...my Spanish might be good in regular conversations, but when it comes to girl talk I am lost.
This Christmas will definitely be one to hit the books
Feliz Navidad Heather!!!!! Happy New Year!!!!
ReplyDeleteHi Heather!
ReplyDeleteIt was great seeing you and talking with you over Christmas. You look great--and you are a real strong young woman to deal with all of the rochester craziness over skype. I wish we could have sent you a huge bundle of gifts and watched YOU open gifts in front of us, instead of the other way around. But I heard sending things via mail to you is not so dependable and quite expensive...I still remember Mike sending me a very important emotional letter in Guatemala and it taking 5 months to get to me, and the second one (the one where he apologized for all that he told me in the first letter) never got to me. Very frustrating. We are very fortunate to have dependable mail in the US. But I did just send your mom a $50 check to put in your bank account, as part of your Christmas gift from us, along with renewing your 2 magazine subscriptions. Hope you can get yourself something you like!
We love you!
love, connie