It’s Not Christmas
5 December 2009 at 14:30 kellykmckinnon 9 comments
By Kelly McKinnon, KF9, León, Nicaragua
It’s not Christmas.
90 degree days and the glow of the Nicaraguan sunlight and my celebration of Thanksgiving in the reception of a medical clinic where I was diagnosed with a stomach bacteria, (Oh the irony!) somehow make the holiday season seem far away.
And yet, I didn’t think it was Friday either. After checking my calendar, twice, I now recognize that my coworkers are not trying to trick me. And neither is the rest of Nicaragua.
Signs of the (rapidly) approaching holiday have been springing up around León and surprising me left and right.
On Thanksgiving, stomach bacteria having been dealt with, I stood in the refrigerated section of the supermercado. I was trying to decipher the difference between bags of milk.
Milk in bags
Just behind me was a shrub that smelled suspiciously like a Christmas tree. Again, I was confused, but to reinforce the presence of the odorous shrub, on came the Christmas music.
Odorous Shrub
A woman reached for one particular bag of milk, she seemed confident in her selection. I went for the same.
Choosing a bag of milk
A few days earlier, I was teetering around on my Nicaraguan sidewalks, on my way home from picking up tacos for dinner, I found myself stepping around three women. Señoras! peering into an open door like giddy young girls.
Etiquette here dictates that, though doors and windows are always open, one passes by without intruding on the lives within. Maybe it is dictated by disinterest, but I, I am interested. I habitually peer vulgarly into the homes and stores and surprises that fill the voids on the other side of the high walls that line the sidewalks.
Peeking into a store, because taking a photo of someone's Christmas tree from the street is too creepy.
So, with these three Ladies peering into this home, I took a liberal gander as well. The object of their oooh-ing and ahh-ing was a Christmas tree, a perfect one, wrapped in a wide garland of dark purple satin.
The three Ladies pointed and chatted excitedly. I was just confused, because, as I said before, It’s not Christmas.
Kelly is the grinch of Kiva Fellows working in León, Nicaragua, where she is actually really happy to be learning about holiday traditions.
Entry filed under: Americas, blogsherpa, Fundacíon LEON 2000, KF9 (Kiva Fellows 9th Class), Nicaragua. Tags: .
1. Jane | 15 December 2009 at 09:11
Great photos and details! How do you get the milk out of the bags??? Why not cartons? I guess bags create a lot less waste, better for the environment – are they behind the times or are we?? I am glad you are so bold as to peer in and take a picture! I love reading your emails and blog entries – great work! Jane
2. espinoza8 | 10 December 2009 at 13:20
I haven’t heard a single holiday song, come across a single ornament or seen a single hint of a holiday season. I’ve spent Decembers outside this US and in warm climates but this is surprising…
3. David Oglaza | 8 December 2009 at 08:50
I spent Christmas in Nepal once where the world carried on as if nothing was happening very strange but a great experience. Especially eating cold xmas dinner in a restaurant that was obviously not used to making them and wanted to cash in on the nostalgic tourists!
4. She Wolf Jimenez | 8 December 2009 at 06:30
Can I just say the smell of that shrub still haunts me! I stop at every Christmas tree I pass since being back in DC, and I am endlessly disappointed. I have yet to smell a tree that even comes close to that bizarre smell found en el SUPER en Leon. Please find out the name of the scent….I think it might be nice in a body spray.
5. Momma | 7 December 2009 at 21:08
Three ladies lurking, two milk selections, one odorous tree. Sounds like Christmas to me.
6. Julie P | 7 December 2009 at 15:35
Haha, I’m always peeking through the doors of people’s houses! Sometimes I even make eye contact with the people inside and have to hurriedly look away… makes me feel super sketchy. Woops!
7. marydear | 7 December 2009 at 04:11
love the odorous shrub – I have many It’s not christmas moments too – for example we had to do a holiday dance at a xmas party – i thought it would be something festive nope…
Uno, dos, tre, quatro,
“I know you want me”
Very word at a work function!
8. M J | 6 December 2009 at 16:09
Bag O milk, bag O milk! Love it Kels.
9. evacwu | 5 December 2009 at 20:37
Sorry to hear about the stomach bacteria – getting that on Thanksgiving would make anyone feel like a grinch! Apparently Filipinos start celebrating Christmas way, way early. So it’s not Christmas. But it IS.
Great post! I cracked a couple of smiles at the “odorous shrub” caption.