Holiday Time

Well - its been quite awhile since my last posting. I spent the Holidays at home in Michigan and really enjoyed relaxing and visiting family and friends. Happy New Year to everyone! I'm back in Mexico and it's hard to believe I've been here for over a year now...

In December I went to a concert of the Mexican Pop group "Camila". It was fun. Their songs are really catchy and they sing really well - if only they spoke English I think they would be a hit in the USA.

My work also had a Christmas Party. I was surprised at how fun it was! It was in a banquet room of a nearby hotel and we enjoyed a really nice dinner, followed by an exchange of gifts and dancing. I got some pajamas that have a picture of the Disney Snow White dwarf "Grumpy"on them (!!) - it was a joke since I guess I'm never grumpy...haha just ask my family if that's the case.

In Mexico it's traditional to celebrate the week leading up to Christmas with "posadas." Posada literally means "Inn". Neighborhoods will host small get-togethers with each house taking a turn to host a posada. The hosts act as innkeepers and other neighbors act as pilgrims who come to request lodging. This sequence is supposed to represent the biblical story of Mary and Joseph being refused accomodation at an Inn. At first, the hosts refuse entrance to the other neighbors, but eventually let them in (how else would the party start?!). Once inside, neighbors pray together, sing Christmas carols, children break open a piñata, and there's a feast. Typical foods at the feast include tamales, atole, and punch. The punch here is warm and served with fruit chunks (Don't worry - the Mexicans tell me it's still possible to spike it). I think posadas are a pretty cool tradition!

On a bad note, I finally got food poisening (I say finally because it usually happens to foreigners within their first couple of weeks in Mexico). I went almost a year without getting sick thanks the my iron stomach, but it finally happened. The culprit was some street-side nachos with some bad cheese (I think). Within a few hours, food was coming out both ends and I couldn't walk or open my eyes because of the horrible headache I had and pain throughout my entire body. It was the worst I've ever felt and I had to miss a few days of work because of it. Thankfully, I fully recovered and am back to my normal, stuffing-my-face-with-food self.

Lastly, I got my ears pierced for the first time! One of my friends down here couldn't believe I didn't have my ears pierced so it was her Christmas present to me =) I'm still wearing my starter earrings, but in a couple weeks I'll be able to start wearing my big-girl earrings. haha