Christmas in South America

Well Christmas was def a different experience over here!! Honestly cant believe i stuck it out!! I think its important to include the fact that I found it really difficult around christmas time, which I knew I would but I had the best people around me so they made it alot easier! Although im still not missing Belfast I really misss the people in it and the "craic" with all my friends. But this will always be an experience that Im going to have and be able to look back on, not many 18 year old girls from NI can say they spent christmas in South America, eh?!

To be honest sittin on a deckchair, 30 degrees outside and listening to "Im dreaming of a white christmas" being played through the patio speakers, I have never felt less "christmasy" in all my life! Its not such a huge celebration over here, and people reallllly dont care about the presents its all about family time. Spending christmas over here really opended up my eyes, and yeah this is going to sound so cheesy but it really isnt about the presents its the people around you and of course the turkey. People here are so warm and welcomin and you cant help but cherish them all for it, the people def made my christmas here what it was, fabulous!

Chile is full of truley religious Catholics, so you can only imagine all the traditions that they had leading up to and on christmas. One which I really enjoyed was the candle lighting starting from the 4th sunday before christmas. 4 candles of different colours each representing different things, for example peace and forgivness. Each Sunday the families would gather around the candles with all the lights out and read a piece of scripture and short prayers. Another MAJOR part of christmas is the fact that they open their presents on the 24th rather than 25th. The 24th seems to be christmas day. So this day 24th, kicked off with a bit of Mass (experiencin the culutre) at 8pm and there where hundreds and hundreds of people there, it was in a huge field with a stand at the front with different people reading form the bible and singing, it was a nice ceremony and the amount of people that attended was incredible! After the 1 hour long service we went home and had our christmas dinner (minus turkey and stuffing and potatoes), ok ....so it actually wasnt really a christmas dinner at all, meat, rice and salad. ohhhhhhhhh not forgetting my dessert ;) Yes I made banoffee Pie, and if i do say so myself it was delicious!!! Iv turned into quite the wee cook out here!!

After dinner we drank champagne and sat out on the terrace, the humidity could have killed!!when the clock struk 12 it was the long waited present opening time. Mum had sent me a parcel and it had been siting under the tree for 3 weeks so u can imagine how anxious I was!! I also got a lot of cards sent form home and little gifts thank u all so much, it really meant alot! So around 2.30am after evry1 individually opening all their presents I went to Melanies house as her sister was having a bit of a party. For christmas she had me the most beautiful little book ever!!! Photos of us, and everything we have done, lots of little songs and rhymes, I will def keep it forever!!

On top of family dinners and parties I went to a work christmas dinner!!how funny!! For the restuarant I help out in, the infamous "Kikis", I dont even know what it was we had to eat but it was delicious and myth has it, that it you taste this soup then you will stay there forever, so fingers crossed!!

25th, Christmas day I went to melanies house for a bbq with all her family...how strange a bbq!!!!!! We had a bbq, drinks went in the pool had music, it was such a different experience, but I had so much fun!! Melanies family are the best, they have done so much for me and they are such nice people!! That night, was probably somethin close to an episode from the OC!! A bonfire on th ebeach with all friends.....perfect way to end a perfect day!!

Just another great day in the fabulous Chile, eh?!

Merry Christmas everyone!!