Christmas 2010

So here to do some back tracking. I left LAX at 1am on the 24th of December. I sat next to the sweetest couple that was retiring to Ecuador. The lady was so sweet and kept asking about my life and my plans. She even woke me up for the meals and the snacks (there goes my sleep right, no she was really sweet and I really appreciated it). They even invited me to Ecuador if I got bored in Colombia. Anyway we exchanged emails so that I can let them know what I decide on Grad School. We parted in Panama with a "Merry Christmas" and a "Good luck!"

Well I arrived in Colombia on December 24th at 12:10pm. Festivities here are ON the 24th. I though, "Hey! What a great idea to get there in time to celebrate Christmas!" WRONG. I landed and couldnt find my baggage recipt to show that it was really mine, geez what a nightmare. Never EVER lose the baggage recipt! I got to customs and they opened everything, asked me questions about it all and then they let me go. Thank goodness my aunt and uncle were waiting for me at the gate (with flowers <3) and we went for lunch (yummy frijoles).

Side note: they told me it was cold so I was in winter boots and a sweatshirt. It was hot.
We then went to another aunt's (Tia Pieti) house in La Ceja. There I tried to sleep, but being Tamayo's "quiet" is not in our vocabulary. So there went my sleep. First was dancing and chatting up with family (since I havent been here in about 1.5-2 years).

 

Then was dinner, followed by the Novena (Christmas prayer), and lastly presents. Presents were HILARIOUS. My cousin Tata and my Tia Angela modeled every piece of clothing and tested out every gift. While my uncle kept singing the same song over and over. My cousins kids, Nicolas and Antonia, were the ones who handed out the gifts to everyone.

Festivities lasted until about 1 am, which would make it over 24 hours that I had descent sleep. So I was looking forward (oh so much) to sleeping in a nice comfy bed. I go to my bed only to find that my cousin passed out there, so where do I get to sleep? On the floor. The nice comfy wood floor. In a room of about 10 people. (Snore, Snore, Talk, Fart) Oh yea! I totally enjoyed that night's sleep (sarcasm). The next morning we stayed at my Tia Pieti's house for a Sancocho (soup) lunch. Then we all went home (finally!!). I went with my Tia Angela and Tio Fernando because this is my home when I come here :). The next week we did some really cool sight seeing, but that's another post...