Christmas and Vacation

Happy 2011 everyone!

But let me start with Christmas. I was expecting Christmas this year to be pretty depressing overall. I mean here I am 10,000 miles away from all my usual traditions. But, because my expectations were so slow, I actually had a pretty amazing time. On the weekend before Christmas, I participated in the MCC Christmas party and the Christmas service at my church. Because this is Buddhist country, Christmas isn't a day off for people, so the church just celebrates early. Believe it or not, I actually sang in front of people at my church! Not alone, but still something I would never have done before. The MCC party was fun because all my sisters came and it just felt good to see how we are a family outside of our house.

On actual Christmas Eve, I went to another MCCer's house with a few MCC people and some people from the house church I have been attending. We decorated, sang carols, and exchanged gifts. Then we slept out on their deck under mosquito nets. In the morning we had Christmas breakfast together. So lovely. At home I would never willing choose to spend Christmas not my family, but it was kind of cool to have to spend it with friends. Christmas day was spent showing Bryn, a SALTer visting from Vietnam, around Phnom Penh. And then on the 26th, we all left for a week of vacation in Sihanoukville (the beach) and Siem Riep. So my Christmas was actually pretty great. I wasn't in the holiday spirit as much as normal, but it still felt like a celebration.

Vacation was fun too. A long week of lazing around and tons of swimming. Highlights included a day of snorkeling, delicious seafood, dancing, laying on the beach and poolside, eating Mexican food (a rare thing here), and plenty of Dutch Blitz games. Spent way to much money, had a great time. I have been planning this trip since I first arrived, and its weird to have it over with. I guess I need to start planning my next major trip. Maybe Laos? Who knows.

New Years wasn't my best ever, but it was fun. There was a huge party on the street in Siem Riep, which I thought would be awesome. It turned out to be a little overwhelming- way to many people in a small space- so I called it a night soon after midnight. But it was definitely a once in a lifetime experience with good friends.

In other news, this weekend I'm attending my first Khmer wedding- a co worker at my partner organization, Peace Bridges. I'm having some traditional clothing made (I promise there will be pictures). I could have gotten away with not wearing something fancy, but I figure this could be my only wedding here, so why not go all out? Plus, I've gotta show off the outfit when I come home. I'm going to the tailor tonight for a fitting, so we'll see what happens. Dressy clothing in Cambodia is notoriously sparkly and bright, so I might end up looking like something from a Lisa Frank notebook. Oh well.