Christmas Eve 2012. I am here in Guazu Cora, with my host
family for this Christmas. It is already a better Christmas than last year.
More family oriented, more “christmasy”. It is sad that I have to have
Christmas lights, Christmas songs and decorations to feel like it is Christmas
but its true. So being here for Christmas is so much better. It is always a
plus to be with my host family from training. They are just so nice and remind
me so much of my family when I was a kid. The parents are so involved in their
kids lives and it makes so much of a difference. Doesn't hurt that my 7 year host sister loves me and looks up to me : )
I am currently sitting with my host family. We are about to
open a bottle of cider. Its 8pm and dinner will be at 12am! Followed by dancing
and fireworks until the early hours of Christmas morning. It is such a
different Christmas than I was raised with but nonetheless I am happy to sure
with another culture.
It is currently about 90 degrees and the sun as officially
gone down. All day I have been sweating and haven’t been able to have a nap
because its been so hot. Now the mosquitoes are starting to bite and all I can
think of is how in the USA in places it is snowing! Blows my mind… but it is what it is…I cant say i like Xmas in the summer... but for now i will deal with the situation at hand.
I miss my family back at home, and everywhere in the world.
But tomorrow when everyone wakes up to opening gifts and sitting around in
their PJ’s… it will be another day here in PY..
I am not sad I am not home for the holidays… but I am sad I
cant experience it all! Soon ill be back in the USA and ill be missing my host families here in PY.
So as we count down to midnight... I shall drink up, share stories of when i was a kid and christmas with my host family and enjoy the time i have been given here in Peace Corps Paraguay.
There won't be any gifts this year, but I am truly blessed with the gift of being able to help others.... It's unforgettable and truly amazing!
Until next time
