it's beginning to look a lot like christmas...

actually, not really. in fact, most days here lately have been clear, bright and blue without a cloud in the sky. i have spent recesses working on the tan on my arms, or more accurately, trying not to get burnt. as we head into summer, i never cease to be amazed at how hard it is to make it feel like christmas without gray skies, snow, and frosty, cold mornings. yet for half of the world, christmas is a summer holiday. it might be ethnocentric and culturally insensitive to say so, but this just does not work for me. therefore, because the weather is not cooperative i begin celebrating a little early. now in the states it is absolutely unacceptable to begin christmas decorations and music until after thanksgiving. one holiday at a time is my rule. but because it is not fall, pumpkins are next to impossible to find, and i have to go to school and teach on thanksgiving day, i have made an exception to that rule the last few years. the christmas music has already been broken out and the decorations will begin to appear slowly...although i will do my major decorating the day after thanksgiving in order to keep a semblance of tradition. on sunday my lovely roommates and i shared our many christmas traditions over dinner. i was reminded how fortunate i was to have grown up in a home full of beautiful customs and traditions surrounding christmas and i hope to continue many of those with my own family someday. my roommates and i decided we would try to bring as many of the traditions as we could to our own little home in bolivia. that is especially important for me since i will not be coming home for christmas this year (i always have to skip the song, i'll be home for christmas, as it starts to depress me). i try not to think about how most likely i will be on a bus on christmas day traveling for 8 or so hours....of course, i will be going from iguazu falls to buenos aires..... :)