Christmas Celebrations at the Mountain School

Holy Christmastime Batman!

Monday night after dinner and a bit of studying, we went outside to view the lunar eclipse. This was a big deal because it was slated to start at 11pm, and we’re usually in bed by 9:30 or 10. Joel has the most amazing binoculars, and we could see every detail of the moon through them. Unfortunately, I had to call it quits at midnight because I couldn’t keep my eyes open.
Tuesday evening we got to take part in a Posada. A posada is an event many Guatemalans celebrate before Christmas every year. The community gathers together, walking from house to house singing, asking each house for room and board. The singing mob signifies Mary and Joseph looking for a place to stay for the birth of Jesus. They are turned away at every house, until the last where they are turned away, and then accepted. After they are accepted there is a fiesta of sorts. It was fun to see this side of the Christmas tradition here, and to play a part in it.
Wednesday I got a lesson in patience. Some of us planned to venture to the water park near the coast with our teachers. We agreed to leave at 11, cutting classes short an hour. Needless to say, because of multiple miscommunications we were still sitting in the back of the pick-up waiting for everyone to get ready at 12:30. After a few more delays, we finally arrived at the water park at 2pm. I still sometimes struggle to get used to the Guatemalan sense of time. (Julieta and Miguel informed us when we arrived at the school that if something starts at 3pm, they tell the community it’s 1 so they arrive by 3.) When we pulled into the parking lot we were elated that it was nearly empty. Then Joel pointed out that it was empty because no one else can afford to go there. Sad. We had a blast, and on the way home stopped at a road-side cantina for the best ceviche I’ve ever had. I didn’t find it the least bit strange when I went to the bathroom later to see the owner walking around the back yard with a live turkey in his hands. I find I’m less surprised at things these days. I have found that anything is possible, and many things are strange.

Yesterday was the big Christmas party at the school. There were probably over 200 people from the community in attendance. There were games, piñatas, and SANTA CLAUS. Poor Santa pretty much got trampled when he was trying to give candy out to all the kids, and you have never seen people dive for piñata candy like this in your life. It was really fun, and we ended the party with a great dance party. Last night we spent two hours delivering presents to the kids in the communities.
This week has been insanely busy, and I’m looking forward to a bit of relaxation this weekend. I feel really lucky to be here for Christmas, and to take part in the Guatemalan traditions. Christmas here is much less focused on presents and Santa and consumerism, and more on family and religion. These people have so little, yet are so happy this week with Christmas approaching. I feel really thankful for everything I have in my life, and how lucky I am to be so privileged to be here now.
In other news, it’s possible that I’m going to have diabetes by the time I leave here. Everything is made or sweetened with loads of sugar. No one drinks water plain, only with heaping spoon fulls of sugar.

No photos today because the internet is a little slow.

Merry Christmas y’all.