The Last of Something

Generally the last of something is enjoyable. Usually when you know it is the last of something you savor the flavor or experience even more. Now that we are in our last year here in Nicaragua we are enjoying the last of many things. For instance, we celebrated our last Christmas and New Year´s here.

We spent our last Christmas in Granada just the two of us. We stayed at a small hotel that had a pool for 3 days. We relaxed, ate amazing food, sang Christmas carols and tried something new this year. Each day we spent time listening to a bible study and then discussed the theme...this was a great way to focus on the birth of Christ. The last three Christmases we have not bought each other gifts and instead used the money to spend time away together. This is a tradition we will carry with us from Nicaragua.

After Christmas we had a group from the United States arrive and were here until January 3. So, we spent New Year´s with the group and we were in the community of Bramadero (where we lived part of the first year). In the countryside there is a peculiar tradition for New Year´s. They make a man out of old clothes and fill him with fire crackers. They call him the man of the old year and at midnight exactly they burn him. It is a symbol of passing from the old year to the new one and a great excuse to use fire crackers. The group stayed up to watch the burning, but unfortunately both Seth and I were unable (too tired) to make it to midnight...we lasted until 10:30 pm, I guess we are old. I did see the video, so it was like I was there. (That is why I don´t have photos to share).

For us this last year is bitter sweet. On one hand it is exciting to think next year we will be home with our families for the Holidays, but on the other hand it means our lives here in Nicaragua will have ended. It is weird to think that all the time and energy we have put into our time here will be over and we will be moving on. It is exciting to think that we will be moving on to a new adventure, but at the same time we don´t want to miss any thing here.