Dec.25 2011
So it is Christmas day in Ghana. I am feeling a mix of emotions. I am missing my family Christmas traditions, but I am so happy to spend the day with the kids. Yes mom I do miss your amazing cookies and all of the other great food my family makes in PA! My dinner of pineapple last night does not compare to Christmas Eve dinner at Steph and Stu’s. It is hard to get in the Christmas spirit here when the traditions are so different. I think for me Christmas is so attached to traditions and it is hard to experience this day without them. I feel like I am missing Christmas in the sense of the traditions I am used to. I have spent Christmas away from my family before, but the experience in the UK versus Africa is very different. As much as I feel a sense of loss I am so happy to have this opportunity to experience new traditions. The traditions I have experienced are limited as the orphanage has limited resources. The most exciting part for the kids is the food they are having including goat and cola. These are two things they rarely have. The best part of today was getting to see the kids’ faces when we gave them their presents and the appreciation they showed for their gifts. The gifts we gave them were less than I got in my stocking as a child and they were ecstatic. It makes me really think about the commercialism that has become so prevalent in North America related to Christmas. I hope this experience will give me a different insight related to Christmas. I guess next year will be the test. As much as my Christmas was very differnt this year I would not trade it for anyting. All of the kids smiling faces made it a day I will never forget.
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| Christmas Spirit |
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| The gifts were school supplies and a necklace |
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| Gloria showing off her card |
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| Agustina, Memphia and Jessica |
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| Say Cheese Mary! |
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| Paulina and Jessica |
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| Classic Francisca- Love it! |
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| I love good hugs!!!! |
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| Ruth and Jessica |
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| Francisca, Francis and Wofa |
I guess I was doing it wrong. Either was it was adoreable!
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| Memphia with all her stuff |
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| Look what I got! |
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Christmas dinner- Fufu with goat (We killed the goat at the orphanage, any one who is interested
I have pictures and video of the process.I did not was to overwhelm all of you)
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She was singing this all day!!!
I hope you all had a great Christmas because I know I did!!!
So it is Christmas day in Ghana. I am feeling a mix of emotions. I am missing my family Christmas traditions, but I am so happy to spend the day with the kids. Yes mom I do miss your amazing cookies and all of the other great food my family makes in PA! My dinner of pineapple last night does not compare to Christmas Eve dinner at Steph and Stu’s. It is hard to get in the Christmas spirit here when the traditions are so different. I think for me Christmas is so attached to traditions and it is hard to experience this day without them. I feel like I am missing Christmas in the sense of the traditions I am used to. I have spent Christmas away from my family before, but the experience in the UK versus Africa is very different. As much as I feel a sense of loss I am so happy to have this opportunity to experience new traditions. The traditions I have experienced are limited as the orphanage has limited resources. The most exciting part for the kids is the food they are having including goat and cola. These are two things they rarely have. The best part of today was getting to see the kids’ faces when we gave them their presents and the appreciation they showed for their gifts. The gifts we gave them were less than I got in my stocking as a child and they were ecstatic. It makes me really think about the commercialism that has become so prevalent in North America related to Christmas. I hope this experience will give me a different insight related to Christmas. I guess next year will be the test. 
It looks like you had a great day! The kids are precious. So appreciative of the little things.
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