Question

If anyone knows an easier way for me to post pictures, uhum Mindy, please let me know. And what about videos?

I thought it about time I post som more pictures!

The girls and I singing karoake in La Cueva. (It was Backstreet Boys, if you were curious.)

A genuine guy that we met in Atacames!

Let there be llamas!

Of anyone reading my blog, Tony Lee will appreciate these next three pictures the most. They are of a festival I went to called the Mama Negra. It was epic. The above photo is of one of many of the pigs with chickens surrounding it that were part of the parade.

The Mama Negra herself (actually himself).

And finally, me getting a spiritual cleaning as I was pulled out of the crowd into the middle of the street and these white-painted men spun me around and spit aguardiente and wine all over me.

Christmas Eve and I'm wearing a tanktop

So today is Christmas Eve and I miss my little town of Beth…I mean Boise. My family(-ies) are all gathering together to share scrumptious foods and tell stories that they haven’t been able to share with one another about the months past. I’m missing the snow and the sweet taste of peppermint mocha with whip cream and red sprinkles straight from one of my favorite corporations, Starbucks. I miss my mommy and my fadre and my little butthead sister that, you know, I’ve actually come to love dearly over the years. I miss Krista’s intuitive sarcasm and Kevin’s humor that only comes out when he’s around just the right group of people. I miss Sarah’s nerdiness that you just wouldn’t expect from such a gorgeous, dolled up girl. I miss Theresa’s lame jokes (I know, can you believe it?) and that fact that her kids are just like her whether they can admit or not. And I miss Tyler because I have learned so much from him and I think he’s learned from me, too.

I miss all my friends who I know are just having a blast reuniting and celebrating after a tuff semester of college. And I miss all of you that were not specifically mentioned as well (including Thomas, Elmo, Romeo, Poopsie, Bear and Dora). Christmas just isn’t the same with the above mentioned, but you all should be comforted to know that I feel a part of my host family, and do not feel alone. We will be eating a feast tomorrow and the next day (including a turkey!) and we are doing a secret gift exchange and I chose tía Viva out of the hat, and any gift that I get her will just bring her to tears and it will be the cutest thing in the world (just ask my Dad and Theresa).

Next to the Christmas holidays, I am learning how to juggle. A bunch of the kids at Opción de Vida (where I volunteer to do laundry and what not for los niños de la calle) juggle for tips on the streets and they are so good! They’ve inspired me to pick up the hobby. They have taught me some tricks and you will all be dropping your jaws in aspiration by June (at least I hope).

I passed my classes at PUCE and am on break until February. I'm going to travel it up with a couple friends and get so used to not having any work to do that next semester will probably hurt at first. It's about 70 degrees outside right now and it doesn't feel like Christmas, despite the decorations that are all over the city. Today I am going to make some Christmas cookies for my family!

Merry Christmas to all! I think about you all all of the time!

Chao.