OH my goodness gracious I cannot believe it's Christmas time. Yesterday was a federal holiday of the Immaculate Conception combined with the national parade to showcase the military power in Lima. It was only yesterday while helping Luis set up the "nacimiento" or very large nativity and the pitiful excuse for a Christmas tree (fake, 3 ft tall, with haphazard decorations), all covered in colored, musical Christmas lights that it really hit me that in this 80 degree weather, with talk of summer and going to beaches, etc. that it really is ALMOST Christmas! Then today the city started putting up the Christmas tree in the city center etc. and at the institute we started a Christmas card contest... needless to say I haven't done ANY shopping or really given much thought at all to preparing in any form for the wonderful season celebrating the birth of Christ! YIKES!
However, I did spend last weekend with Arecely and fam, Luis, and several other friends at the big SHRIMP fesitval in a town near a river about 3 hours from here. Now, if you know me, you know I LOVE shrimp and this was all the freshest best shrimp EVER! And there were a few games, chicken fights, adventures on the crazily created swinging bridge, concerts all night, and of course some good times with the local pisco!
I was fortunate enough to be invited to spend the holiday yesterday with Luis's family (brothers, girlfriends, friends, and parents)... we not only decorated for Christmas, made and ate a great ceviche, watched the Classic soccer match between the two local rival teams, and then grilled out in the backyard! What a wonderful day... reminded me of fun times with American football games and cookouts at home!
No time to write more now, but rest assured, the water is back in my apartment!!! Yea, I'm clean!!! :) Oh and P.S. other great news, my friend Brittney from TCU is coming to visit next month! Woo hoo!
Hasta Luego,
Kate
yyyess! I made it on the Blog!
ReplyDeleteOkay, did you even know that the Immaculate Conception is my FAVORITE feast day? I even threw an immaculate conception party when I was in college. I gave out holy candles. And lots of chocolate. Anyway, wish I could have seen it in a country that really respects some virgin Mary.
I will be there in less than a MONTH!
WOW! I had no idea! Wish you could have been here too... they definitely do respect all that is virgin mary! ;) Can't wait to see you! AND MACHU PICHU!
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