Christmas is Coming

It doesn't feel much like Christmas time here. Everything is green and it's usually about 80+ degrees outside. I started listening to my Christmas music this week, but many of the songs don't have the same ring to them when Christmas is in the summer. I wasn't going to decorate my apartment because I didn't have any decorations and didn't feel like buying any just for this year. I got home from work on Wednesday and had a package waiting at my door. Included in the package were some Christmas decorations for my windows. Putting the decorations up made it feel a little more like Christmas.

I have had moments where it feels like Christmas time. When I got off the bus in Montevideo last week and walked into the bus station, there was a huge Christmas tree and Christmas display in the middle of the station. Later that day, I went to the grocery store in Montevideo and there was a Christmas section at the front of the store. When I got off the train in Ballester on Monday, I noticed Christmas decorations in the stores that I walked past to get home. This morning, on the way to the comedor, I noticed lights on some houses. Then, today at the comedor, Beto asked me if I knew how to set up a Christmas tree* and then asked if I would set up the tree at the comedor. I didn't think I'd get to decorate a tree this year, but I did! I decorated the Christmas tree with the children at the comedor. It was hectic with the children pulling the tree in every direction and climbing on chairs to reach higher branches (the tree was only knocked over once), but it was wonderful!

*As we were leaving the comedor, Beto asked if we have Christmas trees in the States and said that he wasn't sure and that was why he asked if I knew how to set up the tree.