December and all the festivities that come with it!

As a child December would be spent counting down the days until Christmas and wishing time would time go by faster. In my more recent rears December had been a time of finishing classes, final papers cramming for exams, and just looking forward to dancing through campus with the ”I’m free” grin every student knows!

This December however, was different in nearly every way. I had never experienced a warm Christmas, but different things signify “tis the season” in El Salvador rather then a nip in the air.  Like for example, the sound of firecrackers.  Firecrackers were lite almost every night. The first one ALWAYS startled me but no one else seemed to flinch. I guess they know to expect it.

Our beautiful Christmas set-up! 

Over the holidays I was asked if I missed my family being so far from home. Of course the answer was “yes I do”. But the feelings I was having over the holidays were not those I expected.  

I assumed Christmas would be the most difficult time for me here in El Salvador. I am a bit of a Christmas nut and have a tendency to make it too big of a deal. But December had flown by and I was happy to be in Perquín for Christmas. That being said… there were several things that made the passing of this holiday a little easier for me.

1:FAMILIA! As previously mentioned, my dad and Lizzy came to visit. It was SUCH a joy to have my family here to share a little piece of my life in EL Salvador. We were able to see a lot of the more touristic areas in El Salvador. Lizzy and I were able to try surfing at one of the… in Surfer lingo - “rad beaches” that El Salvador is famous for. Other highlights include zip lining through the mountains in Apanaca, swimming through waterfalls in Juaya and admiring the mural covered towns along the “Ruta De Las Flores”. And naturally I couldn’t let my fam leave El Salvador without visiting my favorite pueblito, Perquín. 

Lizzy and her surfing instructor. At one point was trying to point out a sea turtle to Lizzy but was trying to make it very clear it was not a shark since she expressed a little fear.

My dad walking the La Libertad beach

Towns in El Salvador are covered with art. Usually the mural shares a little bit of the cultures heritage or struggles. 

It was the cherry on top of the sundae when my El Salvadoran family met my Dad and Lizzy. They all took note of how tall my dad is…now they understand where my height comes from. They mentioned how Lizzy looks a lot like a cousin who lives down the hill from us. Something I hadn’t noticed. Margarita made sure to tell my dad how many times I had locked my key into my bedroom. To which after translating my dad shared a few of my more forgetful moments in Canada. I learned that it’s kind of awkward translating stories about yourself.

Michel, Lizzy and my dad, in front of one of Perquíns beautiful Murals

Lizzy and I in-front of the church in Perquiín

Michelle, my 7-year-old host sister, is still talking about how Lizzy distinctly pointed out that Michel was holding her hand and not mine. Michel thought that was pretty funny. Margaritta and Hildo have mentioned several times now how nice it was to hear that my dad thinks I am in good hands. And I was thrilled able to show my family around Perquín! The daycare I work at, the church, the park, and the tortillarilla that my host family runs. The places I have been spending the bulk of my time this year.

I feel so lucky to be in Perquín, and I am glad I could share a little bit of its charm with my family.

My Dad and Lizy were only here from the 3^rd to the 9^th. So, what else kept me busy this holiday season?

2. PARTIDOS!

I didn’t really realize I was signing up for a TOURNAMENT when I put my name on the page. I thought it was just a team that was playing for fun. But to my surprise I found myself participating in a legit “football” tournament. Thankfully my team is more on the having fun side of things then the let’s win this tournament side. Don’t get me wrong… I am a big fan of winning things. Ask anyone. But at this point in my life I don’t need the pressure.

Now these are not the standard football games I was previously participating in. The tournament is actually held at the “ganchito” in town. It’s essentially a basketball court used for 4 on 4 soccer games. It’s almost like hockey since you can use the fence wall to bounce the ball off of.

The great thing about the tournament is a lot of the town comes out to watch. It’s not so great when I am playing and half the town sees me take a rough fall. But it has been a super awesome way to meet more of the locals, and actually have something to talk about. For example, “did you see me take that big fall” “yeah that looked pretty painful”, or “did your team win” “no we lost 14 – 0”. Legit, one time we lost 14 – 0. We didn’t have our awesome “portadora” that game... it was a pretty sad.

What else has made time fly….well…

3. YO SOY UNA ACTRESA!

I was asked to bring Michel to the church where she had a practice for the Christmas pageant. Since I didn’t have a whole lot to do during the days of December I decided to sit in and watch the kids rehearse.

Too much fun! 

The Christmas Pageant is a pretty big deal here so the kids needed a lot of practice. I ended up getting more involved then I thought I would and actually landed a role as an innkeeper, the bad one who sends Mary and Joseph away.  When opening night came (the 24^th) I said my lines with a clear strong voice so everyone in the very full church could hear. There may have been a slight outbreak of laughter but I nailed it.

Adorable… enough said!

Participating in the pageant filled some of my spare time and allowed me to get to know more kids. I love the kids or Perquín. Must be the water or something…cause they are all super awesome!

 

No sé si earn reyes no sé si earn tres
lo mas importante es que eran de Belen

4. CLASSE DE INGLES

Everyday at three o’oclock I had a small group of students for “classe de ingles”. We started of by learning how to introduce yourself and ask some basic questions. We learned the alphabet and how to count to twenty. With the help of some songs and the game Simon says we now have many of the human body parts down pat.

My highlight of teaching the class was the game I made to help the kids learn to count. Basically it was snakes and ladders but with a twist. I made the game for my English class but have found that I can’t leave the house without it. Especially if I plan on spending any time at the park, the kids love it. I just wish there was some way I could have had it laminated…. it’s been pretty well used.

Since I am back at work “classes de ingles” have been less frequent. But I intend to start them again in the near future when I get back into the swing of the working routine and learn what times and days work best.

So there you have it. The things that kept me from painstakingly missing home this holiday season. Or in other words, the things I was very grateful for.

Celebrating Christmas on the 24^th!

Christmas was beautiful here in EL Salvador. Michel and I spent the morning playing, eating and watching Christmas special cartoons. In the afternoon we went to a soccer game, which not even national holidays can keep from happing here in El Salvador. Later that evening we attended the Christmas service, after which Michel and I had our debut in the Christmas pageant. She made the 

cutest little shepherd ever!

Honestly, have you ever seen a shepherd this cute? 

After church we all returned to the house to enjoy a Christmas feast including rice, chicken, tamales, vegetable salad, nachos and hot chocolate.  I could not help but buy very small gifts for each of my host family members even though it’s not a costume to give presents for Christmas. The present is the presence of family and food. But Michel was all too happy to document this Western tradition. So was also pretty happy to enjoy many of the chocolates from my advent calendar.

Our christmas feast! And we actually sat around a table to enjoy it which only happens for special occasions.! Usually we disperse ourselves among the multiple chairs in the kitchen. 

 

Michel's documentation of the gift giving. :)

What I considered Christmas day was quiet. All the festivities happen on the 24^th. In fact everything is closed on the 25^th…not because it is Christmas but because everyone is recuperating from what was Christmas.

Can't celebrate Christmas without fireworks! Apparently a spark hit Michel's face during while posing for this photo. She complained about that for days.  

I suppose Christmas on the 24^th in the grand scheme of things its just another number. It just doesn’t sound right.

New years eve and in bed by 11.

New Years eve brought more food, and more firecrackers! On New Years Eve Day the whole family…and, well, most of Perquín went to “El Campo” where the very last two games of the football tournament were being played. It was the big tournament for the FOURTEEN teams the small town of Perquín has. There was certainly a different energy at this soccer game. You could tell the players were a lot more intense. The Mayor of Perquín was even there to give awards to the top three teams.

Later that day we left for a family friends house to have a new years feast. Turkey, rice, bread, potato’s, and salad. I enjoyed being amongst laughter, fun and love even if there were no bored games or giant ball being dropped on the television screen.

New years brings more fireworks! Fun for everyone! 

The family had a gift for Michel, a small guitar perfect for her tiny hands. She legitimately thinks she can play it. We’ve had a lot of fun with it. She strums away moving her fingers up and down the neck of the guitar while I sing some of the songs I have learned from church choir.

We got back around 10 and everyone was tired. It seemed odd to me that there was no “happy new year” and throw your hat sort of celebration at 12. I explained the Canadian tradition in which they responded with “oh…well here we sleep”. I think that is mainly just my host family since I could here firecrackers going off though the majority of the night.

So that was my December… missing this and that I am sure but I think this was more then enough to read.  Props to you if you didn’t just start skimming.

And shamless plug for mail… I have an impressive collection of letters and drawings on my bedroom wall. Want to see YOUR impressive penmanship, or art on my wall? Yeahh you do….

There’s a piece of tape with YOUR name on it!  

My Address is…... 

Bekah DeJong

Km 205, Carretera a Perquïn

Perquín, Morazán, El Salvador 

Centro América