It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

Christmas Day 2011

One of the nice things about Christmas here is that you can have as much or as little as you like.  The malls are decorated to the max, carols are playing, albeit softly, in the supermarket, there are trees in the apartment lobby and the staff wear Santa hats, and there are lots of vacationing families, but it's not the all Christmas all the time frenzy which is so exhausting.

We have been to a few Christmas events and at noon today will go to a brunch at the Sheraton with a group of Americans which will include some Peace Corps volunteers.  We have been given three cakes as gifts.

Last night we went to a Christmas Eve mass with the American Consul General and her family.  I have long heard about the vibrancy of the church in the third world and it was on vivid display last night.  The service was joyful and inspiring and included lots of young people ( including the young priest) and wonderful music.  The priest gave a humorous homily that had people laughing out loud.  The choir sang everything from jingle bells to Silent Night.  It was funny to hear them singing about snow and sleigh rides.   It lasted for an hour and a half and was preceded by a half hour concert, but was worth the time and a great start to the holiday.  Even though it was billed as an English mass, we were about the only white people there.  I guess there may have been Asians from other countries who spoke English.  Or maybe that was just the mass with the most music.

Anyway, quite wonderful.

Many thanks for all the holiday emails.  And from hot and sunny Surabaya, we wish you all a joyous 

 Merry Christmas!

Anne