Summer Fall

One of the things I've been surprised about living south of the equator is how difficult the change of seasons can be for me. I see my friends up north waxing eloquent about fall and all things pumpkin spice (or making fun of it) right around the time the weather here starts to get hot and basically everything feels the opposite of the states. 

It's really impossible to explain prepping for Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner when it's 100+ degrees outside.  I import my share of pumpkin/christmas scented candles/essential oils and yes canned pumpkin and cranberry sauce are usually on my wishlist for mission teams that come this time of year. And when I get a chance I make an effort to make the treats I miss. Say what you will about embracing where you live and whatever else. But it's weird to eat pumpkin bread in May, it just feels...wrong. Even Peruvians reserve hot chocolate for Christmas. which is mid summer. I have never been offered hot chocolate in July...the time of year it would actually seem appropriate. 

All that to say, Zoe and I baked ourselves some pumpkin bread to make it feel, even just for an hour like we are somewhere that feels like fall. 

Always my helper. She said she wants to be a baker when she's a "growed up"

The finished product. You can't tell but it is moist and delicious

Theres a term for how I feel. It's called 3rd culture. I'm not living in my home culture and the culture where I do live will never truly be my own. So we merge the cultures and make a 3rd culture. We adapt. But sometimes it is difficult for me and/or the kids. We love both places. Today Zoe was singing a made up song that went. "I wish it would rain in Peru and also snow. I wish it could be Christmas in Peru, when it's Christmas in Texas." It will not be a chart topper for sure. But it does kind of capture a little bit of how we feel. (yes I know that Christmas happens in Texas and Peru at the same time. She meant winter, but she didn't know the word for the weather being cold) 

So laugh all you want at pumpkin spice spam. I laugh too. But I'm also kind of dying to be there at the same time that I'm loving being here.