This year I had a very challenging time getting into the holiday spirit leading up to Christmas. It was the first time that I had spent all of December in a hot city, and my first Christmas without family. I just sat thinking that there was not even the slightest possibility that I would see a snow flake. I tried tricking myself by constantly listening to Christmas songs and watching Love Actually over and over. Mariah nor Hugh Grant could kick the Grinch out of me. Finally a two-day bake-a-thon with Meredith brought in back my Christmas cheer, I think it was induced by consuming my weight in sugar and butter.
So, with my ever-so-slight but still existent Christmas spirit, I set off for Santa Rosa de Copan. Eight or so volunteers all met up in the metropolis of the west to exchange gifts and eat an amazing dinner together.
On Christmas Eve we held our white elephant gift exchange, which was filled with holiday classics like- machetes, fireworks, moonshine, and epi-pens. Then, in true Honduran tradition, we took to the streets to light off fireworks for about 4 hours. At first the fireworks were beautiful and seemed like a great tradition to have, and then soon felt like we were in a war-zone, with bangs and flashes coming from every direction.
Christmas morning greeted us with gloomy overcast skies with the threat of rain. We decided that a walk around town was the best way to see how families traditional celebrated. We found at least two people painting their houses, people playing in the piles of newspaper- left from the fireworks, and a select few going to church, not what we were expecting. Kat, Taryn, and I were enticed to church with the familiar sounds of Christmas carols and decided to stay listening to the service and the songs. In the early evening we ate a delicious dinner of turkey, mashed potatoes, the best multi-grain rolls I have ever had, bean salad, and more Christmas cookies.
It was surprisingly the most relaxed, laid-back Christmas I have ever had, and great alternative to going back to the USA.
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