Peruvian Christmas

In the days leading up to Christmas, everyone is generally in a great mood and having a wonderful time celebrating with friends and loved ones. I was given the opportunity to help out some children that weren't going to have the Christmas that they had been waiting for. If you remember from my post back in November, I bought a Barney costume for Halloween. I guess this isn't a normal thing to do in Peru, as you can just rent one for about 10 soles, or about $4. I paid 150 soles! After hearing this I have been looking for excuses to wear the costume more to get my money's worth out of it! 

I attended (and ran the final kilometer) of the Nike Lima 10k in November, to bring my cost per use to 75 soles, but that wasn't enough for me - I needed to keep using it! My friends Rocio and Carlita attend weekly meetings, along with other nutrition students, at the Hospital de Niños (Children's Hospital) in Lima, and offered me and my friend Matt the chance to come along and visit some children and wish them a merry Christmas. I also went along with the same three the following day to Sabogal Hospital in Callao to visit Rocio's pediatric patients.

The next day, I got another chance to use the costume and went to a small, poor pueblo in Ventanilla (north of Lima). I had brought with me an entire suitcase worth of gifts to pass out to children in this pueblo that otherwise might not receive a single gift (I guess Santa/Papa Noel can't find them on the map?). I was invited by the nurse that I have been working with on my research, and we went with a group of workers from Cayetano Hospital to deliver food to families and toys to the children. I was surprised to find out that many of the children even knew the Barney song! I guess it's a good thing I learned it before I went!

Te quiero yo (I love you)

 y tu a mi (and you love me)

Somos una familia feliz (We're a happy family)

 Con un fuerte abrazo y un beso te dire (With a big hug and a kiss I will say):

Mi cariño es para ti (My love is for you).

I now have the price per use of the Barney costume to 25 soles/use as well as some memories that will last a lifetime!

Lizeth, Carlita, and Rocio helping to put the Santa hats on Barney and Winnie the Pooh

Celebrating Christmas with children at the hospital

Barney and Winnie the Pooh with a few of the kids

Visiting kids that were too sick to make it to the party

The kids in the pueblo LOVED Barney!

Fuerte abrazo

More hugs for the kids

Singing the Barney song in English and Spanish! How many of you can do that?!

Passing out presents to the kids

Guess Who? (I found some Spanish instructions!)

More presents

All of the kids in the pueblo lining up for their presents

Not only was this my first ever Christmas without snow, it was my first Christmas that I spent without my family. It made things a little bit easier for me that I was home over Thanksgiving, but being away from family during the holidays is always hard. Fortunately for me, I have been "adopted" by my Peruvian family, the Arámbulos. I have lived with Beto (the tallest son in the picture below) ever since July and his family has welcomed my sister Katie (who was here last year) and me into their family.

My Peruvian family: Jorge, Luis, Beto, and Charo Arámbulo

We started the celebration on the night of the 24th at about 8 pm. We met at Beto's parent's house to pick up his brother Jorge and we went to buy some fireworks (has anyone back in Minnesota thought about sitting outside at midnight in December while lighting off fireworks? Didn't think so...). We then met up at Beto's other brother Tato's house to drop off some presents for his 4-year-old son Nicolas. At Tato's house, I was also able to Skype with my family and relatives back home and see everyone try on their alpaca sweaters that I bought for them! I also got to see all of the snow! It was wonderful to see my family (even if it was just on video) for Christmas.

After we left Tato's house, we went to Beto's aunt's house to celebrate with their family. At midnight, we all got up, hugged and kissed each other, and had a celebration. There were fireworks going off non-stop in Lima for about a half-hour! It was an incredible sight to see! After we got done celebrating at midnight, we were off to another house to celebrate with his mom's side of the family. We stayed there talking and opening presents until about 4 in the morning! I'm not exactly sure what time Santa comes in Peru, but I was always told that I had to go to bed early so that he could come while I was sleeping... They don't sleep on Christmas Eve here!

At this point, we are only about halfway through the Christmas celebration. We finally went to bed at Beto's parents house after that, and woke up around 10 to have breakfast with his family. We then went to go have lunch with Beto's mom's side of the family again, then went to have a FEAST at his aunt's house on his dad's side.

After stuffing ourselves completely full during the past two days, Angie, Beto, some of Beto's friends, and I went down to the beach! We drove for about an hour south of Lima to go hang out at a beach house with Beto's friends and went out to a Disco until seven in the morning! We woke up the next day, went to go lay on the beach, and finally got a chance to relax! The entire experience was fantastic and helped make my Christmas one that I'll never forget.

Fireworks at midnight

Celebrating Christmas with some of Beto's relatives

Another house for our celebration

I'd also like to express a very extra Merry Christmas to my uncle Tom and his family. Tom has been having heart complications and recently had a LVAD inserted and has been staying in the ICU ever since his surgery. Please keep him and his family in your thoughts and prayers during this holiday season!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to everyone who is reading this around the world!