Ana_The Holidays

Back in California! I was so excited to be back home. It felt really nice to speak English and people actually understanding you. I didn’t have to fight my way when I ordered food or bought anything at the store. I would get really surprise that people actually asked can I help you. I looked at them puzzled. I didn’t know what to respond. Customer service was not on my list the past 6 months. It was the longest time I’ve been away from what I call home.

Tim worked right away. He had two freelance project to work on it all has to do with flash. That’s one of my resolution this year is to learn flash. While Tim worked for two weeks I got to do errands, Christmas shopping, visit friends and family, launch around the house and chat with Pat (my mother-in-law). It was nice just relax. It did feel weird at first to just sit and not want to do something. Time went by super fast. We only had two weeks in Cali.

On Dec. 16 this side of the family had a early Christmas celebration for us. We had turkey and everything else that comes with it. It was really nice to hang out with everyone after a long time away from home. As a joke I manage to buy some chicken feet at the local Mexican store and wrapped them as gift for Tim in a Cheese-it box. I marinated the four chicken feet with ginger, soy sauce, vanilla, cinnamon and hot sauce. YUMMY! Everyone was laughing since he always the doing jokes to everyone. He liked the joke!

We spend actual Christmas and New Year’s with my side of the family in Panama. It was Tim’s first Christmas away from home. I think he had a good time. I know it’s not the same from what he is use to. For one it was super hot even at night. Poor Tim he was sweating and all red, he kept wiping his sweat of from his forehead. And two everyone speaks Spanish. Although my Uncle Tito and cousin Jose speak really good English to communicate with him. He did very well.

On my side of the family we celebrate Christmas on Christmas eve. We have the big dinner with turkey, ham and yummy bread with almonds, tamal, rice and salad around 10ish at night . At midnight we go around the room and greet each other “Merry Christmas” with a kiss on the cheek. It was so cute to watch Tim he knew what to do and he was kissing everyone in the room except for the boys of course. My grandma asking him to dance and his response was his leg was hurting in Spanish. - me duele la pierna. Oh, yes dancing is big part of celebrating. There is music all the time and you dance if you want to but is all Spanish danceable music salsa, merengue, reggeaton and tipico. Right at twelve you can also hear many fireworks going off around mi Tia Mary’s house where we stay.

For New Year’s we did the same thing. We celebrate on New Year’s Eve on the 31, have a late dinner same turkey, ham and so forth , and wait for the New Year to come. This time it was more lively, more music, and more movement around the house. We were a group of 20 or so people. All my close aunts, uncles and cousins and of course my mamasita and abuelita. Like Tim say all my hundred Tias. Very important we had the twelve grapes ready to eat at twelve is a tradition that Panamenians have. As you eat each grape you have to make a wish for each one and the number twelve represents the twelve months of the year. Pretty neat custom. I always do it no matter where I am for New Year’s. Tim also ate his grapes. He is so cute.
He was in heaven since he had bought some fireworks to burn that night. Yeah, more fireworks get burned on New Year’s eve. Right at twelve you can hear the house being shaken by the noise of the fireworks. Tim help with that. He was like a little kid in a candy store. He didn’t want to tell me how much money he spend on fireworks. He bought a whole bunch. I know he was in heaven. My family was worried about him burning it. But I told them not to worry he had lit dynamite before so fireworks is no big deal. Other people on the street was also burning fireworks. The neighbor across the street help burn some of Tim’s fireworks. There was one big rocket on a stick that some one has to hold it to get it lit and the neighbor volunteer. I kept telling Tim not to dare. It was fun to see Tim so happy. At least I know he had a good time for New Year’s.

We stayed in Panama a total of three weeks. It was nice to relax and really hang out with mi family. My mom went back to Miami on the 4th and Tim and I stayed until January 11th. For few days we went a nearby beach wit Tia Mary and Tio Tito. Nice to get away from the heat. It was so windy and cool. Days flew by. I had a wonderful time. I love going to Panama to visit my family they’re awesome. I always feel treated like queen and get spoiled every minute I’m there.

Now I’m back in Cali for a few days and on the road again. I thought I’d be done with traveling but no I’m still going. On Monday I’ll fly to Bangkok to meet with my sista. We’ll tour a little bit of Thailand for two weeks and then hubby Tim is going to join us. I’m super excited I’ve never done a trip like this with my sister. It will be a lot of fun. Can’t wait!

I do have to admit I’m a bit nervous and anxious since I’m not going with Tim but I know I’ll be fine. I’ve been attached literally to his hip the past year and it feels weird not to be with him 24/7.

Can’t complaint. I’ve had an amazing 2006 with breathtaking overview on life, what a crazy adventure. I’ll never forget this trip. And now we’re starting 2007 continuing with our travels. We should be done May or June. We’ll see!