Navidad Abroadidad

First starting of with a celebration of Hanakah in Piura city for Sasha and Peter, a series of more unusual feelings began. This is something that I am now much accustomed to in the Peace Corps: mixes of feelings. A group of us, Peru 12 volunteers in Piura, arranged to meet up in Piura city last weekend to take care of some more errands, purchasing of household items, and to just hang out a bit after our first couple weeks. It really can be energizing to get out of the campo for a bit to regain perspective and take a break, or in many cases like mine, a shower. All involved included Jessica, Lindsey, Eric, Matteo, Mark, Sasha, me, and a special guest from Tumbes, Sarah Walker, who had a medical checkup on her leg which she hurt from getting robbed a few weeks ago (see her blog for more details). It didn’t really feel like Christmas for a while because the weather is so hot here. But then I went into a shopping center and heard the Christmas music (in English) and saw the big Christmas tree and decorations in the plaza downtown. It made me a little sad to realize that it actually was Christmas and that my family back home was doing all the things that I was used to doing for Christmas that I was going to miss out on.

On my return, I was greeted by a beautiful dead mouse/rat on my floor in front of the doorway. Kinda gross. What’s the difference between a mouse and a rat, anyone know? I think it was a mouse. I feel much better now about my living situation because now I have a ropero (closet-thing), a gas stove, more tinas (plastic bins to store water and wash things), a bucket to try to make a soil filter, and more blankets. I still have to figure out a better way to wash myself and my clothes, but I have more utilities now. I feel a little spoiled because my apartment is pretty big, but I am very happy to have a lot of room!

I had a great time on Christmas Eve spending it with Sasha’s host family. The other host brother and sister, Paul and Cyntia, who are studying in Piura City, came home on the same bus as us to spend Christmas with the family. I went to the late mass at the church where the kids put on a little play of the posadas which is apparently a tradition for that mass here. After I got back from mass, we ate a good meal of chicken, salad, rice, and of course paneton and chocolatada. This family is very dynamic and has a lot of personality. At midnight, everyone shared hugs and wished each other ‘Feliz Navidad’ which was really nice to see along with the absence of presents. We had a good time eating, listening to music, and talking. After eating, Paul, Caty, Sasha, and I went on a hike in the dark up to the road out of town to see the stars. It was super tranquil and I had to remind myself that I wasn’t back in NM due to the clear sky and the scenery of the mountains in the dark.

Overall I had a great Christmas in spite of not being able to be with my family. I thought it could be hard, but it really helped just being around a family and feeling somewhat a part of that family. It was interesting being away from home, but in all, it was not super-different than what I am used to. I think a lot of it has to do with similarities throughout latin culture. I hope you all had a great Christmas and were someone where you felt at home.