A La Vida

Christmas

The Christmas music has been brought out! And I give a big shout out to Downhere and their “How Many Kings: Songs for Christmas” Album. They have a great way of changing classics in to an even more wonderful experience. As I sit here in the office, I am transported back to Canada, sitting near the fire in a warm house with a mug of hot chocolate or my mother famous apple cider. Outside snow is slowly drifting to the ground in large cloudy flakes. There is serenity and a peace floating in the room. However, I am brought back to reality and I sit here in air conditioning (which is just slightly close to the frigid airs of Canada) thinking about how Christmas isn’t about snow and feeling cozy. Although it brings me back to my childhood and the wonderful memories of a Canadian Christmas it is not what this season is about. It is about the birth of our saviour. Jesus Christ. Just as I am thinking this Downhere’s song Christmas In Our Hearts slips in through my headphones and they go on to say just that. Jesus is the reason for this season, if there were nothing else there would still be this. Let us Celebrate!

Speaking of celebrations, here in the beautiful Puerto Rico they celebrate! They can find any rhyme or reason to celebrate. It is a wonderful thing to behold. Now they don’t do this celebration as often any more, but Parrandas is an event where a group of people get together to do late night carolling. They give their “victims” a few hints in advance to allow them to prepare a little, but it is a surprise as to which night they are going to come. On the surprise night, carollers come with instruments in tow to sing and party. After they are invited in for some food and will after move on to another house and another party. This is the nature of Parrandas. I am not sure when my first will be but I look forward to it.

The Dare-ing Girl: best

She looks really happy right? How does she do it all and then still have time to cook at the end of the day? And like she is not outrageously tired with bags under her eyes?

Married life is wonderful and is an amazing blessing full stop! I still have yet to get in to the swing of things and find my own way of doing things. I mean I can cook, but I think in coming here I thought I would have it all figured out (a constant theme in my life). That I would just fall in to the steps of being my mother and know how to get everything done right on time and have great cooking ideas…. Boy was I delusional. Now I can’t say that I have completely fail, just that I don’t yet have my own way of figuring it all out. Another one of those “take it day by day”, in this case, dish by dish. Oh life…. why can’t you just be all figured out in a neat little package… who needs adventure? I guess then I would be the “existing” part of the quote at the top of my blog. But come on who hasn’t thought about wouldn’t it just be easier if…. Learning curve after learning curve. Here we go baby! Bring it on learning curve of life! A La Vida!

Ba Ba Ba Bird Bird Bird, Bird is the Word

I was brought back to my childhood today. As I look over all of the Spanish verbs on my wonderful que cards I thought of good old Fred Penner. When we were younger we would watch this show all the time and really enjoyed it. There was a character called Word Bird who would fly in and provide the word of he day. Well I have about 10 verbs each day in which I need to memorize! Today’s verbs are:

                                                          Poder - to be able

                                                         Cancelar - to cancel

                                                         Cambair - to change

                                                          Limpiar - to clean

                                                           Peinar - to comb

                                                            Venir - to come

                                                      Que Jarse - to complain

                                                           Toser - to cough

                                                            Cortar - to cut

I have over a hundred of just verbs that I have made up. Let me tell you my work is cut out for me! I do have a very wonderful Puerto Rican family surrounding me and cheering me on. They are all very gracious of my lack of language and for that I am ever greatful. The language itself is beautiful and fluid. I look forward to the day that I am fluent, but for now it is one day at a time or one word at a time like our old friend Fred Penner.

San Juan, Puerto Rico

Here we are in San Juan, Puerto Rico. Wow. I have to say when I first got here I was slightly overwhelmed. We are a long way from Canada. I thought how is this Canadian girl going to make it in a Spanish speaking country? I was hit in the face with the amount of work and challenges ahead of me, but knowing that if I (and we) continue to push threw there will be great reward in the end. I fix my eyes on the Lord, for where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, maker of heaven and of earth.

I can either be my own best friend or my own worst emeny. I choose the first. Like the quote by Wilde I choose to Live not merely exist! Through the good times and the bad times I choose to say that God is good. He is my provider. My Rock.

One of the first nights here, Juan and I went out to a local restaurant with a couple of friends. There was live music playing, both Spanish and English covers. As we sipped sangria and waves of music washed over us I was hit by the rich culture that is here. It makes you feel apart of something that is bigger than yourself and you can’t help but getting lost in it. As I am here longer and longer I look forward to become more immersed in the beauty of it. TO LIFE! A La Vida, here in Puerto Rico!