A Very Salvy Christmas!

I have been so wrapped up with my Salvy Christmas Experience that I haven’t had a chance to get to the internet before now! So what is the Salvy Christmas Experience? The 24th is the big celebration day here. And by big celebration I mean we ate all day long then went to the pupuseria for a dance at night. So kind of the same as most other days, we just ate a little more and danced a little later. We danced and chatted and watched boys blow things up until midnight. That night I fell asleep in my hammock, totally blissed out, listening to Christmas music on my iPod and eating Grandma’s English toffee. Christmas day was just another day for everyone here. Meanwhile, I was running around delivering Christmas cards and shouting “Feliz Navidad!” to everyone in sight. In the morning my host sister and I opened the mountain of presents that my family had sent me. I’m all stocked up on journals now, which is great because I’m blowing through them here. I deeply miss family, friends, snow, eggnog lattes, Christmas lights, cuddling under blankets, thick socks, walking in the cold, stillness, and home. But I feel so much love and contentment here. I had a really incredible Christmas.

I spent an amazing weekend at the beach with my gringos, taking advantage of the sweltering Christmas season. Two long lazy days and hot hopping nights filled with impromptu bonfires, regueton dance parties, horseback riding, big hammocks piled with three friends, and great hugs!!

I played in my first softball tournament here. Seven teams and hundreds of people turned out to our little town. My favorite moment was when there was a disputed call. Both teams charged the field to join the argument, immediately followed by most of the spectators. The elderly and small children and even the vendors were gesturing and shouting. I don’t think most of them knew what they were yelling about, but everyone was in a huge uproar! I looked over and the ice cream guy was ringing his little bell with all his might and grinning wildly, just to join in the commotion. I just sat down and laughed out loud.

The futbol guys asked me to be madrina of their team. The best thing I can equate it to is the chick that prances around during wrestling matches in a bikini. Except here they wear a poofy dress. I wanted to explain how sexist I find the tradition and that the only reason they asked me is because they want to show off their gringa, which is also reverse racist and I want no part of any of that. But I didn’t think it was very culturally sensitive and anyway I don’t have the words in Spanish. So I just said I was shy.

So my host mom likes to stare intensely at me as I’m eating and nod gravely with every bite I take. Drives me bonkers. Well today I was feeling feisty and decided to stare unabashedly at her as she ate and nod in silent agreement with every bite she took. I wish I could recreate the look she gave me. It was as if I had totally lost my mind. The joke clearly did not hit home. I guess I will not be doing that again. Sigh.

We rang in the New Year dancing under the stars! And I spent New Years Day exactly as I would have in the States, curled up writing in my journal reflecting on 2007 and thinking forward to 2008. Just substitute the hammock for the couch, the tank top and shorts for a sweatshirt and my fluffy red blanket, and the Regueton for Christmas music. But I was drinking hot chocolate. Some things will not be sacrificed.

Oh and I now am the proud owner of my very own machete. I’ve only used it to open stubbornly taped Christmas gifts, but I feel very Salvy.