Weeks 16 and 17 leading up to Christmas were pretty typical. I went to Crossfit, school, and had plenty of Christmas get-togethers. On the weekend of week 16 I went to Guayaquil with my family, and we literally just went shopping at 3 different malls/plazas the whole time. I was getting pretty annoyed by the end, but I guess there was nothing better to do. I didn't really feel comfortable looking for clothes or anything because I didn't want to make them wait while I tried things on. So I ended up just following them around and holding their bags or whatever. During week 17 there was a volleyball tournament between courses, and my course begged me to play every day. I was reluctant to play because it meant changing shirts with one of the guys for their jersey, which was always damp and gross. But I begrudgingly changed and went out there to help my team win 3 of the 4 games we played. The week of school leading up to vacation was a joke- the teachers didn't even teach and the students were allowed to pretty much play around all day. If they weren't doing volleyball, or weren't sitting at the daily Christmas assembly in school, they were being crazy in the classroom- singing, dancing, sleeping on the floor, listening to music, playing games and more. I took one day that week to get up early and go to the Supermaxi store and buy ingredients for baking Christmas treats that my Mom normally bakes back home. I first made pretzel treats and then some chocolate covered peanut butter balls (or buckeyes). I saved the buckeyes for myself- they were so good haha- and brought the pretzel treats to my Rotary Christmas dinner that Wednesday night. At the dinner, we found out our next host families. I am nervous about the change, but I still have a month left where I am so I will not get to worked up yet. I attended the Christmas show my school put on Thursday night, and was disappointed at how boring and uneventful it was. I was just expecting it to be a great event, but then the kids were all half-hearted with their singing and the older kids were only participating because they had to in order to get credit for a class. For a Christmas event, it just was not joyous for me to watch. On Friday I went out with some friends, and ended up meeting a new friend named Alyssia. She is in the peace core and is staying in Ecuador for 2 years. Now THAT is a long time to be away. We had a great conversation and she invited me to do some volunteer work with her when I can. I was excited about the new opportunity. Saturday night I had my course party which was fun when everyone was dancing together. And on Sunday, my parents hosted a Christmas party in our house for their group of friends. I went down to eat with them and listened politely to their conversations until they started to leave and then I excused myself for the night.
Start of week 18- On Monday I went to the beach with Karen and Simone and some other friends. It was a great day but I got sunburnt :( I got home finally to shower and get the sand off me before heading to Chili's for the Machala exchange students "Christmas dinner". I am honestly sick of going to Chili's each time because there are Chili's restaurants in the US, and there are plenty of other cheaper cafes that are less busy, have better food and cost way less. But oh well. It was still good to see the others and wish them a Merry Christmas. I got back to my house and my host sister and 2 other family members had arrived. I had to stay in my host sister's room for the next two nights while the other family guests stayed in mine. Before bed we ended up watching a bunch of the Jeff Dunham ventriloquist videos on Youtube (with Spanish subtitles) until 2AM because our guests found them funny. I found myself laughing too and it was nice that we could understand the same jokes in two different languages. It had been awhile since I laughed with my host family so it felt good. I got up around 9:30-10 on Tuesday and Skyped home because my family and our closest family friends were having their Christmas Eve breakfast and I wanted to say hi. That afternoon I got ready to attend church at 8pm with my counselor. There was no way I was going to miss mass over Christmas so I was glad my counselor let my come with her. When I got back from church I skyped my dad for a little while so he could tell me how their mass and dinner at home was. I went downstairs after skyping to find more company/family. We socialized until dinner at 11:30. I actually enjoyed all the food- so that's good- and ate everything on my plate (which is rare for me here). At 12 we all gave hugs and kisses on the cheek while saying "Feliz Navidad!". Then everyone opened at least one gift. I stayed up talking with our guests until 2:30 or 3. At 9:50 on Wednesday morning my host-parents got me up to finish opening our family presents. For presents I got some bracelets, nail polish, lip gloss, and a new outfit. I gave my host family presents from NH including an ornament, shot glass, t-shirt, kitchen towel, NH state cookie cutter, license plate, and book with pictures of the different regions. After exchanging gifts, I went upstairs to find that the guests that had been staying in my room had already left. I moved my things back into my room and my host family went back to bed to sleep or watch movies. I started skyping my family back home when they were starting to open their stockings. I had each person open one present in front of me. My mom opened my stocking that my grandmother had put together for me. It was nice. After skyping them, I skyped my Gramma Reid on her new iPad, then my Mema and Pepa in Florida, then my best friend Tori, and messaged other people in between. I skyped my parents a second time later in the afternoon/evening, and talked through Skype to my Uncle Mike on his Facetime. My parents opened up the rest of the presents my Mema and Pepa had for me- my traditional ones- and then told me they would put any money that I received in my account for me. I ended up turning down an invitation to dinner with some friends and just chilled in my room for the evening, working on the following video, and only leaving the room to heat up some leftover tortellini that I had made for my lunch a few days earlier. That was my Christmas. I went to bed and that was it. It doesn't feel like it happened. But at the same time, I feel much better about this holiday than I did about Thanksgiving- at least they celebrate it here. I wasn't feeling so alone and other exchangers were in the same boat.
Everyone is now talking about what New Year's Eve parties they will be going to. I am still a little hung up on Christmas. I made this video on Christmas day as a kind of progression of my Christmases. It starts off kind of sad... my Christmas photos from when I was younger, and pictures of my closest friends at our annual Christmas party, and things that I am missing from home. The song 2,000 miles by Coldplay is the perfect song for this- I calculated and am approximately 3,323 miles from my home. I am fortunate that my home is in the same time zone though- that part makes life a lot easier for me. The video then turns into my Extraordinary Merry Christmas, with my pictures from my celebrations here. I really did enjoy my class Christmas party and the dinner/celebrations with my family on Christmas Eve and early Christmas morning. I can now say that I have spent Christmas in another country, in another culture, with new family and friends. I have made new memories, and though I prefer the traditions from home, I can appreciate the traditions and family time here in Ecuador too. And though there isn't snow or Christmas carols on the radio, there are still decorations and I was able to go to a Christmas mass and they have a few Spanish Christmas songs that we listened to. I even sang two songs- "Silent Night" and "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas"- for my family before we opened presents at 12:30 on Christmas morning. After I sang, they all commented that I have a beautiful voice and that I should try out for The Voice or some singing competition when I return to the US. Anyways, the video is kind of a representation of the bitter-sweet Christmas I had, but showing that I am okay- I am happy. I made it through the holidays and I am still here. And now, I have new stories, memories, and traditions to bring back to my family. It is good practice now because one day, I won't be able to spend Christmas or other holidays with my family. I don't like the idea of the holidays without my parents and brother just because it's what I've always known- I think of Christmas, and the most important part of the celebration for me (besides recognizing the birth of Jesus) is being with my family. But one day I'll be too far, or I'll have to go to my husband's family for Christmas, or I'll have my own family to celebrate with- my parents and brother won't always be there to celebrate with me. I'll have brought some of my favorite traditions to other places and families, but will have gained new traditions as well. I look forward to bringing some of the Ecuadorian traditions back home with me for next year's Christmas.
P.S. I am sorry if the following video doesn't work. Apparently, Youtube says I have some copyright problems with the songs, even though I went through all the normal steps so that the video would work. I tried to change the settings so that it would work again, but Youtube is weird sometimes and still may not make the video playable. Either way, if you cannot view it and would still like to, send me an email so I can send the video to you that way.
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