Christmas in the south...



I'm having a hard time grasping the concept that 80 degree weather and shorts and tank tops is christmas time here. I really don't even realize that it's Christmas until one of the many little signs of the holidays pops up. For example...I was in the supermarket the day before thanksgiving and I heard a Barbara Streisand christmas song-- which is just wrong in itself since everyone knows you can't play Christmas songs until after thanksgiving...but still. Then there's the Christmas ornaments and garland scattered throughout various stores and stands. Today, I went to one of the smaller malls to buy some art supplies and I found that the outside of the mall had been decorated with white and red lights and tree shaped ornaments. And upon entering the mall, I saw a familiar sight...a small set up with Santa's house and a cutely dressed girl with a polaroid camera sitting next to a santa clause. Although their Santa here was not the Santa I'm used to...he was thin and had more of a blonde beard than white. And his clothes were trimmed in pretty patterned white fabric that I would expect to find as curtains in an old victorian house as opposed to the puffy, white fur we use back home. I would have to say that he was more of a Father Christmas than a Santa Claus...and in case you still don't quite understand the difference between the two, just listen to the names: Father Christmas and Santa Claus. Father Christmas is by far the more formal and proper of the two... I guess Chile has a proper Santa where as we have the more common and jolly santa...

But by far, my favorite Christmas reminder came as a complete shock. I was walking into the Plaza del Armas with my friend from home when I looked ahead through the crowd and saw the most enormous Christmas tree I had ever seen. There, towering over the post office, was a huge construction of green wires and garland, shaped to form a tree. They were still working on it, so I'm intrigued to see what it will look like upon completion and lit up at night... But as it was, I was speechless...and still am. I can't decide if it's hideous or gorgeous, but either way...it's astounding.



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And on a bit of a side note...today I made it through three straight hours of my art history lecture (without the usual break in the middle) and was able to pay attention and follow everything!!! It's taken me until my last official class...but I finally made it!!!