La Navidad en el Verano (Christmas in Summer)

 

 

I just celebrated my first Christmas away from the United States, away from snow and cold, and away from my family and my friends.  To say that it was strange is an understatement.  To me, it never really felt like Christmas, or at least the Christmas that I normally have... Regardless, Christmas came to Chile.  I had a Christmas Retreat with the staff of Andacollo on the 23rd.  I gave a presentation to everyone on the theme of Jesus being born poor for the poor.  I was super super nervous beforehand but I think that it went pretty well--and the best part is that it is done!

 

 

I had a rather laid-back Christmas Eve; chatted with the fam, slept in, etc. I went to mass at the parish

at 9 that night.  It was a lovely mass and the church was full of parishioners.  I was invited to the Alvarado house afterwards to celebrate with them.  We had drinks and dinner together, and two of the Haitian seminarians joined us as well.  Anais was so soo excited to open her presents that she could barely wait until midnight (as per her mother's rule) to arrive.  So she scarfed down her dinner while the rest of us had barely begun.  So while the rest of us were eating and talking, Anais was shouting over everyone to tell and then show her mom and I her new presents. 

 

 

I gave her headbands and my mom mailed the game Uno for her as well.  So after dinner, while drinks and conversation flowed, Anais, Luciano, and I played numerous games of Uno.  Icemick and Jacquy also joined in a few games.  Victor's mom and sister/brother-in-law showed up around 3 in the morning, but I was only able to make it for an hour more before I had to cry off and head home.

 

Christmas morning, I woke up and opened my Christmas presents that my mom had sent.  Victor and the rest of my "family" picked me up to head over for an asado (bbq) at Nana's house.  I stayed for a few hours, with lots of food and more Uno games, before Victor dropped me off at the event on my side of town with the Congregation.  The other ex-pat priests, brothers, and nuns and I had a very lovely dinner and conversation.  It was overall a very lovely summertime Christmas.

 

I am headed off on the Misiones trip to Paradones, Chile on January 3rd with Andacollo.  I am sure that there will be some great adventures that occur that I will share with all of you.  Until then...