Merry Christmas!

So I like being able to wear a halter top and a skirt on Christmas day, but it also just doesn´t really feel like Christmas. It got a little closer when I got cold and had to put on a long-sleeved shirt. Until I looked and realized it was still 79 degrees. Bah. I actually had a really good Christmas. I actually spent it with other Americans (not PCV´s). See the first volunteer who was in this area was here in the 80´s, Becky. And her mom, Joyce, decided she liked the area so much she bought land here and built a gorgeous house just down the hill from where I live (not technically in my community). So she is now retired and lives here now. So Becky was visiting for the holidays and they invited me to spend Christmas Eve and Day with them. So I did. We went out to Chinese food on Christmas Eve which was actually very good (there is a large Asian population here in Panamá) and had left-overs for dinner. We stayed up with the neighbors till after midnight to see the fireworks. See here in Panamá, Navidad is at midnight between the 24th and 25th. The 25th is still a holiday, but when you ask people when Navidad is they will tell you medianoche. So at midnight is when they have their feast (if they can afford one) and they open presents (if they could afford any) and they set off fireworks. That´s the Panamanian style. But we did ours the American style. We watched the fireworks then went to bed. We got up in the morning and were relaxed, had a good breakfast of fried eggs, bacon and toast. Then opened the presents together, one by one in order from youngest to oldest. Joyce and Becky are incredibly nice and generous people and had even bought me gifts, including my very own hammock. :) So it was a very nice Christmas. Then we had a relaxing day and had the neighbors over for dinner, which was a delicious home-made lasagña. I enjoyed myself. I was supposed to go to the beach to meet up with other volunteers but it turned out there were no busses to my site, so I didn´t make it. It was cloudy and raining off and on anyway. Maybe next year I´ll do the tropical beach Christmas. :) For New Year´s I will be in my site at my host family´s house. I think New Year´s is pretty similar to the states, except apparently there is a lot of burning of ... I can´t remember what they´re called. It´s a stuffed man that they light on fire. Though I don´t think it´s supposed to be anyone in particular. I still have to ask the meaning behind this tradition.

I hope everyone had a good Christmas and try to stay safe on New Years! Miss you all! :)