I guess it's no longer Christmas Eve (as the title might say), as it is 4:06 on Christmas morning in this moment. Just wanted to record somethings I did today. First of all I woke up to a powerless house, and it stayed that way until about 6:00 tonight. I didn't do anything in the morning... like actually nothing. Ok well actually we helped Ceci set the table for dinner, which was at our house later tonight. Papa Ernesto asked that Michael keep an eye open for the people who were supposed to come around to fix the power, so I was in the same place on the couch when Mama Ceci and Regina left (hair apt), as when they came back. And that was like two or three hours later, although I can't say for sure because none of the clocks were working. In that time I ate a two chocolates and talked with Michael about the good old days when there was snow for Christmas. Mama Ceci came back just as the electricians arrived. They arrived with a flash of electricty. We don't know exactly what happened, but there was a big bang and a flash of neon blue that apprently Michael saw. Then Papa Ernesto came and everyone went for sushi, and later hand-churned ice cream. When we got home I called Heather and my family, who were in Auntie Cath's house for Christmas Eve. It was really nice talking with them. And I phoned Grandma yesterday which was also really good. It's nice to hear familiar voices.
Then I showered and got ready for church. There was a service near our house that started at 9:00... I don't think I've gone to the same church more than twice with my family, and the guy at this service was interesting. He was a bit older and talked a lot. But it was nice because he seemed to know a lot of history and a lot about the bible.
When we got home there was already one family in our living room waiting for us. The atmosphere was very Christmasy with the bowls of nuts and the lights from the tree. Ernesto's side came, some friends of the family and then Tio Rey and Tia Lici. We did some readings with the nacimiento (Nativity scene) and then at midnight we took turns rocking baby Jesus. It's a tradition here to celebrate Jesus' birth at 12:00 by singing and two people rocking the cloth he is laying in. Hmm not sure if I explained that very well. The two youngest people start by each taking two corners and swinging him while everyone else sings. All of the youth end up having a turn in the end, and then baby Jesus is added to the Nativity scene. A bigger version of the baby is passed around and everyone kisses his forehead. After that we did the cousin gift exchange. Cousin Ceci had me, and I had Regina. I got a purple braclet and a silver necklace (crazy, I know).
At 1:30am we started eating dinner, which was a soup, fish, beef and apple salad. For dessert I ate tapioca. We finished around 3:30, and then we sat around the table and talked. Some of the kids went to the back property to watch a movie. Lea, Paulina and I ended up going upstairs to watch TV slash sleep. And yah... thats where I am now at 5:00!
12/25/2010
12/18/2010
12/17/2010
The Beginning of Christmas
I would say it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, but that would be a lie! As far as weather goes, it is more or less the same as it was in August when I arrived. I'm sorry to say that I'm losing my Canadian-ness as I think it's freezing cold here in Mexico. I bet it's 18degrees celcius but I am so cold. The thing is outside it's fine and I could easily wear shorts, but the house is like an icebox. But it seems like lots of people here enjoy dressing as though it's -30 with snow on the ground. There's girls walking around with Uggs and big mitts, children in thick jackets we would go skiing in. Neckwarmers, numerous sweaters... just about everything but snowpants. I'm just so glad I brought my sweat pants!!!! So so glad. I've been living in them so far this Christmas season. Eveyone here probably thinks I'm a slob (but they're probably right). Also I went two days without washing my hair! I showered just minus the shampoo ;) It's because I discovered how great short hair can be when it's not straight. If I braid the fronts when it's wet, it's awesomely crimped by mid-day! It's just so much more fun. And it's stiffer and says more slick when I haven't washed my hair that day. So thats's kind of nice.
I wanted to talk about more about this Christmas season thing. First of all, it's not so common to sit on Santa's lap in the mall here. Instead of writing a letter to him, the kids make one for the Nino Jesus. I think most Catholic families have a nacimiento in their house, with Mary, Joseph, the donkeys (everyone). Kids write the letter and put it near the nacimiento with one of their shoes (in case el nino Jesus doesn't know who wrote the letter).
There are these dinners called posadas which there are nine of and celebrated at friends and families homes. They say there are nine of them, but I don't know because I've gone to two. But I think it's like a countdown to Christmas... starting on the 16th and ending on the 24th. Christmas here is a very religious holiday. The posadas are enactments of Mary and Joseph looking for lodging the night Jesus was born. The hosts of the home are the innkeepers and everyone else is requesting a place to stay by singing a special song. Everyone is holding a small candle, and two people are carrying statues of Mary and Joseph. We go to three different houses or places in the yard, to ask to stay and supposedly the third is the one that let's us in. Here some of the prayers of the rosary are said, which are basically praises for the virgin Mary. The comes the pinata! I learned that there are seven points that represent the seven "most deadly" sins. The bright colours in the pinata represent temptation, the blindfold is faith and the stick is willpower. The candies inside are the riches of the kingdom of Heaven. So the signifigance is that when we are faithful and "break through" sin, God will reward us.
We also drank a drink called ponche, which is like a glorified apple cider with seasonal fruits and cinnamon sticks. At the end of the night the kids get a goodie bad with candies (and they were good too!). The first posada I went to was in a friend of Mama Ceci's house, where this particular group of friends meets every year. We ate tacos. The next one I went to was last night at one of my relatives houses. It was more casual and we ate hot dogs. But they were glorified hot dogs with jalepeno, tomato and mayo! Also we were all given a medium-large sized bag of M&Ms which I ate pretty rapido.
I wanted to talk about more about this Christmas season thing. First of all, it's not so common to sit on Santa's lap in the mall here. Instead of writing a letter to him, the kids make one for the Nino Jesus. I think most Catholic families have a nacimiento in their house, with Mary, Joseph, the donkeys (everyone). Kids write the letter and put it near the nacimiento with one of their shoes (in case el nino Jesus doesn't know who wrote the letter).
There are these dinners called posadas which there are nine of and celebrated at friends and families homes. They say there are nine of them, but I don't know because I've gone to two. But I think it's like a countdown to Christmas... starting on the 16th and ending on the 24th. Christmas here is a very religious holiday. The posadas are enactments of Mary and Joseph looking for lodging the night Jesus was born. The hosts of the home are the innkeepers and everyone else is requesting a place to stay by singing a special song. Everyone is holding a small candle, and two people are carrying statues of Mary and Joseph. We go to three different houses or places in the yard, to ask to stay and supposedly the third is the one that let's us in. Here some of the prayers of the rosary are said, which are basically praises for the virgin Mary. The comes the pinata! I learned that there are seven points that represent the seven "most deadly" sins. The bright colours in the pinata represent temptation, the blindfold is faith and the stick is willpower. The candies inside are the riches of the kingdom of Heaven. So the signifigance is that when we are faithful and "break through" sin, God will reward us.
We also drank a drink called ponche, which is like a glorified apple cider with seasonal fruits and cinnamon sticks. At the end of the night the kids get a goodie bad with candies (and they were good too!). The first posada I went to was in a friend of Mama Ceci's house, where this particular group of friends meets every year. We ate tacos. The next one I went to was last night at one of my relatives houses. It was more casual and we ate hot dogs. But they were glorified hot dogs with jalepeno, tomato and mayo! Also we were all given a medium-large sized bag of M&Ms which I ate pretty rapido.
12/09/2010
Roses and Starbucks Cups
It's crossed my mind recently more than once how life really isn't that fair. I mean, I don't recall anyone ever trying to insist that it was... but little things often remind me how life isn't fair. Sitting at a red light I saw a young couple crossing the street to where a woman was selling roses. It was a Friday evening and they were dressed for a semi-formal night out. The girl was choosing her roses as the guy took some money out of his wallet. It just made me wonder what did this woman do that determined she would be the one selling flowers instead of the one receiving them. Is it that she couldn't finish highschool? Or because she has darker skin? It really isn't that fair.
Also what do the people who cook and clean the house think of this lifestyle? I feel guilty the days when I don't do much. Like for example if I watch more tv than usual or sleep in late. I wake up at 10:15 and Alma has already been up for almost three hours cleaning and tending to everybody's pety needs. I wake up, shower, go to the kitchen, make eggs, leave my dishes in the sink, check my facebook, and go up to the roof where I pass Alma on the way, who is doing laundry. After about an hour I come back to the room where the bed is made, the floor mopped, and the sink clear of toothpaste debree. The house cleaners don't really get to have lazy days if they want to keep their job. They empty the garbage bins, where they see empty Starbucks cups and the price tag for another dress. I can't help but wonder if they feel any resentment when they find a pair of new shoes on our floor every second week, while knowing there are many people who lack so many essential things in their lives.
Also what do the people who cook and clean the house think of this lifestyle? I feel guilty the days when I don't do much. Like for example if I watch more tv than usual or sleep in late. I wake up at 10:15 and Alma has already been up for almost three hours cleaning and tending to everybody's pety needs. I wake up, shower, go to the kitchen, make eggs, leave my dishes in the sink, check my facebook, and go up to the roof where I pass Alma on the way, who is doing laundry. After about an hour I come back to the room where the bed is made, the floor mopped, and the sink clear of toothpaste debree. The house cleaners don't really get to have lazy days if they want to keep their job. They empty the garbage bins, where they see empty Starbucks cups and the price tag for another dress. I can't help but wonder if they feel any resentment when they find a pair of new shoes on our floor every second week, while knowing there are many people who lack so many essential things in their lives.
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