The holidays are heeere!

These are Mexican pastries. Trust me when I say you can't find these in Iowa City.

My whole family makes fun of my tree! It is a modern take on Christmas -- it's my beloved minimalist creation. Sadly, no one else likes it...

I made a cake. You can't tell from the picture but it actually turned out really badly.

​Greetings from Mexico,

I am in La Ciudad de Mexico right now as it is winter break. This is my FAVORITE time of the year!!! I buy into the commercialized happy-fest that is the holiday season just as much as every other Midwestern teenage girl. I bake cookies, do the tree, hang the wreath, and buy everyone presents. (This all happened before I came here :P)
To be honest American holidays are something I have come to appreciate a lot. I love that there is a time dedicated to the happiness and baked goods. Apparently, Sri Lanka also partakes in this. Colombo is supposed to look amazing when it is lit up. 
Still, I feel like the America is the place to be if you want to go nuts with this holiday. I began to celebrate Christmas more when we came here. 
I remember trying to explain the holidays to the kids last summer. I described it as Vesak and New Year’s combined. In Sri Lanka, Vesak entails these beautiful paper lanterns while one associates the New Year with special food and presents. So I am grateful I experience the holiday season because I really regret having to miss both Vesak and the Sri Lankan New Year. 

Now to what I really wanted to write about…

English Aid to Rural Sri Lanka is on break right now so I will have more updates on the lessons next month! Just wanted to wish everyone a very happy holiday season!

Until next time!