The majority of volunteers normally go back home for the holidays. I decided to spend the holidays at my home here, my multiple homes. I made this decision for multiple reasons, but I believe the primary reason was that as much as I love my own family (very very much, miss you guys! Pozdrawiam i Sciskam!) I decided that I have spent 23 Christmases with them already, and I will spend many many more (I was just tempted to write “if god so permits”, I have been brainwashed!!! Or have happily assimilated, you decide). Christmas being a time when the richest customs and traditions of every culture are demonstrated, a time when family comes together, I decided to send the holidays this year to get the full experience of the culture. I had the option to spend Christmas Eve with some fellow volunteers in the small city close to my site, but being that this was the important day for Panamanians I decided to spend it in my community. I started the day off by baking yummy Polish coffee cakes, 1 for each family. It was my grandmother’s recipe, and a tradition that my mom has continued by baking it for every Christmas Eve. So it was my turn for me to take on the cake. It wasn’t easy :) it was a bit rough without a mixer, oh the luxuries of back home, but with the help of a random friend who stopped by (people always seem to know when I’m about to bake or cook something and always stop by to watch) together we came up with very creative solutions for all the obstacles that I encountered, and together I believe we created a beautiful masterpiece! He now has ordered one of these cakes for his birthday just by tasting the frosting. I should also mention that this friend will be turning 27 soon. Not 7. Haha. Here is the cake! Multiple people have told me that it was delicious! The best one I’ve made so far. Thank you grandma! You’re famous in Panama for your cake! Who would’ve ever thought!
I delivered the cake to one family, and then went to my first host families house to spend the day and night with them. We made tamales together, chatted, joked around and laughed a lot as always. Then I went with my host brother to church. I sang a solo in church, Silent night in English, Polish and Spanish. When I reached the Spanish verse everyone joined in, it was wonderful! Though completely unpracticed, and according to me slightly and accompaniment disaster. The guitarist (all though a fantastic guitar player) tried to accompany me an started on a different key then I normally sing on and I had a minor moment of panic). Overall I think it went well. However we were in church for 4 hours. 7:30 pm until 11:40 pm. And even then we had to sneak out early. Mass ended at about 11:30 but then they brought out to cakes, and were like time to celebrate the birthday!” And I in my head, was like 2 cakes? What two people are celebrating their birthday on Christmas eve? I soon realized, I tustve been way too exhausted from spending 4 hours at church because my brain wasn’t doing its best. It was Jesus’s birthday. Two cakes, so that there would be enough for everyone. They then started to sing all the different versions of Happy Birthday that exist here. I found this so interesting. I have never sang happy birthday to Jesus before. It was also interesting to hear how set they were on explaining that on this very exact day Jesus turns 2014 years old. I didn’t argue, only in my mind. As soon as the songs were done it was time for me and my host brother to sneak out. Super sweet cake on a very empty stomach at nearly midnight just didn’t sound appealing to either one of us. So we booked it home, through the hills and the rivers (I love saying that because its actually true) and got home in record time of 17 minutes. 11:57 just in time for midnight! Why is this so important you may ask. Well because Christmas here, is celebrated just like the new year. All the real celebrations really begin when the clock hits midnight, because that is when it is officially the 25th, Christmas. I am not sure if they believe that Jesus was born at midnight or not. Anyways it goes a little bit like this. Everyone starts arguing about what time it really is because one person says its 11:55 and the other says its 11:34, and a third says something different. I think to myself, its 11:59, no wonder everyone is always late. I say nothing. I’ll let them celebrate on their own time. Finally everyone counts down. 10, 9, 8 , 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, Merry Christmas yell the teenagers. Then everyone goes around hugs everyone and kisses them on the cheek (this is the only time I have seen the kiss on the cheek here) and wishes them a Merry Christmas. Then the grapes get passed out. Every person gets 12 grapes. 1 for every month. As you eat them you are supposed to pick out all the seeds and count them. The number you get is the number with which you will win the lotto this year. I giggle at this. I begin to enjoy the very tasty grapes, which I have not had any since I left the USA. Lost in the deliciousness I eat seeds and all. When I’m on grape 5 I realize this, and afterwards make an effort to pick them out. Well, mas o menos. Lets just say, I really enjoy grapes. I ended up with a measly 11 seeds as opposed to the 28 or so that others had. Good thing I don’t believe in the lottery. After all of this they begin to serve that they spent the ENTIRE day making. I receive a very full late. I soon realize that Im the only one. I don’t complain at them moment, fresh bread, delicious ham, tamales, my taste buds are definitely celebrating. I find it strange though, that they spent all day just making food for midnight, and at midnight they don’t even eat it they say its too late to eat. Strange planning. Apparently they make the same planning mistake every year. But hey, they’re happy.
I go to bed at 1:30 am and wake up at 6:30 am thinking that I will be the last one up. Normally every one is up by 6. In the house of about a dozen people, My mom was the only one up that was up by the time I left 7:15. I rushed home and to the town because I was supposed to join other volunteers to the beach. Apparently, as always there was no reason to rush. We left at about 1:30pm. As we arrived to the beach I announced to everyone that I don’t really like beaches anymore. I’ve had bad luck in Panama and every time I go to the beach it rains. They look at me like Im crazy. No way! they argue. It doesn't rain at this beach! It never rains here a friend says, and she goes their every week. Sure enough, 15 minutes later it was raining.It was pouring. With a string wind it got chilly. It was awful! No really it was amusing more than anything else. Soon enough though that the water was wonderfully warm! All in all it was a good day at the beach. We finished the day off with an incredible home made dinner. Barriga llena corazon contento. If you don't know what it means you haven't been reading all my blogs.
Humourous Photo Story
Panamanians love them selves some parading! Any occasion they can find to do it, they do! And Christmas is not an exception.
One thing they may like more than parades, is marching bands themselves! This is serious business!
Panamanians love them selves some parading! Any occasion they can find to do it, they do! And Christmas is not an exception.
One thing they may like more than parades, is marching bands themselves! This is serious business!
This guy is serious business.
Those reindeer antlers, clearly a demonstration of serious business. Poor guy refused to look at me. Reindeer prides got him!
Sexy red silk dresses are in! Just ask this woman!
or anyone of these little girls! No importa!
The Christmas Parade is the first time I’ve seen real floats at a
parade. Well any floats at a parade. Now I know why. Appears to be a
lack in holiday appropriate floats. Christmas - Its a bugs life! Duh!
You don’t see the connection? Thats ok. Me neither.
The Christmas Parade is the first time I’ve seen real floats at a parade. Well any floats at a parade. Now I know why. Appears to be a lack in holiday appropriate floats. Christmas - Its a bugs life! Duh! You don’t see the connection? Thats ok. Me neither.
No Importa!
No but seriously, they had some pretty good floats.
Like this one!
It even came with confetti blowing dragons Imeanreindeer! Aren’t they the same thing? The saddest part, that confetti is the closest thing to snow that these kids will probably ever experience.
And the biggest event of the Christmas Parade, the car show. There had to be about 30 pimped out cars that participated in the parade. Oh which one should I choose! How about this one! Oh the Christmas Spirit.
Heres a kid whose loving the cars.
And heres a kid who isn’t.
Here's a big kid who wasn’t liking the camera attention. But my host sisters really liked his distaste for the camera. As did I. Guys were trying to snap pictures of me all night. Maybe they thought I was the real snow queen! White as snow after all in their eyes. Well take this muchachos! How you like the camera attention!?
Then of course came the pimped out car showcase.
And my favorite part. The taxi showcase that followed. “Hey thats the guy who tried to rip me off!!!!” Nah, that did not actually happen, but only because the windows are tainted and you can’t see the drivers!
Obviously, I enjoyed the night! I mean just take a look at my hat! I had to buy one! Everyone was doing it! Any night with these people is a good one! Especially when you can laugh together :)
