Last Christmas in Macedonia

I know I have not written in a while; and I have a lot of catching up to do. It's been busy here, full of holidays and travel.  Luckily, I do not have school on top of that.  For the past 3-4 weeks we have been on Winter holiday; but it will all start again on Monday.

So where did I leave off....Christmas.
For my last Christmas here in Macedonia, I wanted to celebrate with the other volunteers.  I spent Christmas Eve at home because I wanted to open presents with the family, over Skype.

 My cousin's girlfriend and her son joined my family for our Christmas Eve dinner.  They explained to him that I would be joining them via the internet; and that I was teaching English in Macedonia.  I have the ability to be in two places at once with the wonderful invention of Michelle on a stick!!

Jenny and I "acting" surprised since we already knew what we were getting.
The next day I went up to Veles where we were having a traditional American Christmas full of football and food!!!

When I arrived, I met up with some of the volunteers that were going to go meet some of the local high school students to play some football and basketball.  Later, we all went over to one of the volunteer's house.  We had two turkeys, ham, green beans, potatoes, mash potatoes, gravy....you name it we had it. The volunteer also invited his host family so they got to see what a traditional American Christmas is like.

 Food and.......

.....Football!!!  Sam did not know that he could get American football on his TV. So everyone was excited to sit and watch the Jets verses the Lions.  It really did feel like a Christmas back home.

Too focused to know that they are being photographed.
It was a great last Christmas in Macedonia; but I am excited to know that next year I will not be celebrating via Skype.