Stone cold Turkey

It is kinda really crazy how much can happen in a short amount of time; for instance, I am coming up on my 4 month mark, where has the time gone!!!????? Over the last 2 weeks I have gotten to partake in quite a few Bolivian experiences, on the 16th I got to put on my cap n' gown and graduate with KEP'LEFF DEA, I didn't think that it would be able to compare with my Pen High Grad 2011 but it was every bit as awesome and more! The ceremony was every bit as significant but about 1/3 the length (but i guess if you calculate the time it takes to get everyone to the school then it takes about the same amount of time....the invitation said 7.....it started at 10....WELCOME TO BOLIVIAN TIME) I think that because my 2 grads were so different, I got to enjoy each one equally! In Bolivia the ceremonies MUST be held at the school (it is law), when you go to recieve your diploma you walk down an isle in front of everyone with your parents and together you get your diploma as well as a rose. Then there is the typical speeches and then there is a prayer and then another and then another and then a marichi band preformed for us and then the students preformed a song for the audience and the teachers. The next day was the Bolivian version of prom, you get all dressed up and go to a hotel for a big dinner and dance, but this prom is for everyone, each student gets 10 tickets to give to family, friends, hobos on the street if they so desire. Each of the grads has to walk down the isle in front of everyone with either their date or their parents and then there is a toast and the opening dance. Little did I know that I was going to have to waltz...borderline disaster! All in all it was a great graduating experience, I got to spend it with my chickas de intercambio, my family and my friends from school...great combo:D

Between Gradding and Christmas only left a few days of down time which I filled with last minute trips to the market to do some shopping and Baking, lots and lots of baking! I taught my sisters how to make gingerbread houses(borderline fail :S), chocolate balls, snowmen cookies and sugar cookies, it was a good couple of days accompanied by an amazing Christmas..yet for some reason it felt nothing like Christmas. On the morning of the 24th I went with my dad and my brother to an orphange to give out christmas gifts to children who otherwise wouldnt have gotten anything for christmas, to see the look on their faces when we surprised them...well it was awesome! we Gave out 200 toys and volunteered out time cooking them a nice dinner, that is what Christmas is all about!
Christmas was celebrated all together with my entire family on the 24th, it is tradition to set off fireworks at midnight and to have a great big dinner.We had turkey and it was stone cold because we picked it up at 9 and we ate dinner at 12 but it was still good. After dinner there was the gift  exchanging and felicidades and then it was off to bed. On the 25 there is not much of anything going on, most of the shops are closed but it is otherwise a normal day.

Loving life, living every moment and experience to the fullest, I'm so privelaged to be here!
Merry belated Christmas to everyone and have a Happy New Years!