Ha llegado la Navidad!

On Friday, Paula and I decorated for Christmas. My host parents went to bed early, but we stayed downstairs to get the house ready for Navidad. I must be honest, our decorations…are a bit sad. Our tree is reminiscent of Charlie Brown’s in size, and besides the tree, there really weren’t any other decorations. (Although the maid did tack a piece of tinsel to my bulletin board!) The nativity scene, however, was huge. In Spain, every single house has a nativity scene. Not all houses have a Christmas tree, but a nativity scene is a given. Paula and I had fun listening to Christmas carols (in Spanish, so I didn’t know any of the words), decorating the tree, and setting up the nativity scene. When we were finished, we turned the lights off so we could plug in the tree lights and get the full effect. Since the lights were off and the Christmas carols were blasting, we had a small dance party in the living room. It’s moments like those that I won’t forget.


Belén



The tree!


Setting up Belén

The following week, my host mom was in Madrid for business and my host dad was sick, so Paula and I ate dinner alone that week. Paula was thrilled that there was no one to tell her to eat her vegetables, and although I considered telling her to eat them, I realized ‘Hey, I’m her sister, not the babysitter.’ I think we got a bit closer that week. We watched Patito Feo (sort of like Hannah Montana for the Spanish speaking world) during dinner and I silently laughed at how dramatic it is. Paula would never tell her friends she watches it, but everyone in the family knows it’s her favorite show.

On Saturday, it was Paula’s 13th birthday party, and she and 10 girls from her class went to a laser game place and then out to eat at Foster’s Hollywood, which is an “American” restaurant. I was spared from playing laser game, and then my dad came to pick me up in time to eat. Amparo, Ambrosio, and I sat at a separate table from the eleven 13-year-old girls. Overall, it was fun, and it was nice to see Paula so happy. Although she did mention after everyone left that she wished she had been given some toys. That’s Paula for you : ) ¡Feliz cumpleaños Paula!

The cake


Presents! (a sweatshirt and candy from me, and a set of toiletry cases from her mom and dad)

And finally….I have some exciting news. Over Christmas break, we’re going to Rome!!!! I’m crazy excited- I’ve obviously never been to Italy, and so I’m so grateful to my host family for planning this trip. Roma here I come! We’re leaving on the 27th and coming back the 30th. I can’t wait!

Besitos,
Paige