Gathered around having a drink…
To keep the lonely holiday blues at bay here amongst those of us who are celebrating a Salvadoran Christmas (or Hanukkah!) the volunteers in my region had a little get-together to rejoice in the spirit of the season…and by rejoice I mean exchange $5 white elephant gifts and drink.
We met up in Ataco on Wednesday afternoon to enjoy some dinner, drinks, and the festivities of the fiestas in Ataco, including scary carnival rides, greasy street food (here they have fried dough called churros, which is much like a funnel cake and delicious), and fireworks.
Opening gifts...
Just like Christmas morning...sort of
Watching the fireworks from the patio...
A pleasant night in pleasant company. It is always nice to get a little “American” time; speaking English and having a beer. Now, just a few more days until me and Adrianne spend a quiet Christmas drinking rum on the beach.
I am lucky to have great friends and live in an amazing country, but nothing can take the sting of being away from my other home, so if anyone gets a slightly-drunken teary phone call on the 25th forgive me in advance! 
Merry Christmas! Cheezy group photo in front of the tree!
Please drunkenly call me on Christmas! I miss you. And we need to hammer out when I am coming down to see you.