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Feliz Navidad!
'Twas the night before Christmas...and the Robinsons were sitting beside a fan wondering if Santa remembered their change of address...
This is a very different Christmas this year, Karen's first Christmas away from home and Mark's second. Added to that is the humidity of Lima (no sunshine as yet) and the fact that Christmas is celebrated here on the 24th.
Karen's family traditions are continuing on in her absence, though we did manage to partake in one - reading 'The Night Before Christmas' to our nephew and niece via Skype earlier. The Kwants' fire looked very appealing! We also tried to keep up the family Christmas eve coffee tradition earlier, but this time as a family of two - not quite the same! No carol services, no extended families to visit, no presents (thankfully no Christmas shopping either!), no proper Christmas tree, no festive fun with friends, no radio to hear the Christmas classics, no snow, no Christmas films, no mulled wine, no chocolate money, no selection boxes, no fires, no Christmas holidays, no Christmas market...
Christmas in Peru = nacimientos (nativity scenes), hot chocolate, paneton (cake with fruit), neon lights, fireworks, families eating Christmas dinner together at midnight on Christmas Eve, the baby Jesus arriving in the nacimiento at 2am on Christmas Day, Christmas trees covered in tinsel and lights and Christmas parties for kids known as Chocolatadas.
In some ways Christmas doesn't feel as big here as in the UK, maybe because there's a bit less commercialism, but I imagine as the country continues to develop rapidly that too will come.
Although it hasn't really 'felt' too much like Christmas, the season has brought new opportunities and experiences. We went to a carol singing night with lots of Americans which was like another world again - American food, American accents, American decorations and American carols - a good evening which brought a taste of home and some festive cheer. We also saw the national ballet school perform in Huaraz- Mark's first ballet experience! Great performance combining Tchaikovsky classics with Bjork and Jason Mraz, but the Peruvian audience almost deserve an entry of their own, it was definitely a 'cultural experience'. Babies crying, phones ringing, audience members strolling on to the stage, the sound system turning on and off at random points throughout, people arriving for the event as the final curtain dropped, and that was all after the ballet started an hour late!
Now, we have the opportunity of a few days in Lima before returning to work on 27th. We didn't think we'd ever look forward that much to returning to Lima, but strangely we were quite excited about the prospect of a few days break in the city. The 8 hr bus drive was worth it for a trip to the cinema to see The Hobbit, wi-fi in our flat, being able to go to a supermarket, visiting the sea and the prospect of an Indian on Boxing Day! We're spending Christmas eve with Latin Link friends remembering the events of 2000 yrs ago and watching the many fireworks that are set off at midnight. Christmas Day will be spent with Latin Link friends again having a traditional turkey dinner!
We miss our family very much at this time. However, we are thankful that we even have families to miss. As we walked through a street's famous light display in one of the posh areas of Lima tonight, we couldn't help but notice its darker side - a man sorting through bins trying to find bottles to sell on for a few pennies, young children of 5 or 6 out on Christmas Eve begging at the roadside instead of at home waiting for Santa. So many people with so many problems all over the place. So though it's easy to feel homesick at this time, how can we be anything but thankful - thankful for each other, thankful for our family at home, thankful for friends to spend Christmas with tomorrow but most of all thankful for the gift of Jesus - that changed history and that changed our lives.
Wishing you all a lovely Christmastime filled with joy and peace and a Happy New Year...
Love, Mark & Karen
- comments
Noel Purdy Hi Mark and Karen, Thanks for your fascinating update (I like the sound of Christmas in Peru), and happy new year to you from all your friends at Willowfield Parish Church in Belfast. You are in our prayers.
Kathleen Murphy Hello Mark and Karen and a very Happy New Year to both of you. I have been very remiss in not writing to you but for that I apologise. I have enjoyed reading your account of Christmas in Peru and parts of it sound very magical. The ballet experience sounds wonderful for the ballet itself and the music but extraordinary for all the peripherals that took place. Anyway, I am glad to hear that you are both well and that hopefully you enjoyed Christmas. Please continue to take care of yourselves. (Your Mum is well Mark though she does miss you.) Always in my prayers. Love, Kathleen xo