It’s interesting to spend Christmas with snow around. I’m just not used to it. In Australia, Christmas usually comes in the middle of a heat wave. All you really want to do after stuffing yourself full with Christmas pudding is go to the beach and bake yourself browner than a roast chicken. However as strange as it is for me, there is a definite feeling of rightness, now that all the Christmas songs actually fit with what I’m seeing around me.
I do lament the lack of mince pies and pudding, however I just learned that Americans don’t have those delicious treats as part of Christmas, nor do they have Boxing Day, so I don’t feel so bad. I am full of Christmas cheer, which really set in when I exchanged gifts with my students and heard them squeal with delight at the pink stuff I bought them (they’re a pair of nine year old girls). I remembered that feeling of getting presents and wondering what on Earth was in the giving of presents from old to young. At the time I thought that getting presents was the end of the equation. Now I understand.
In addition, as I sipped my coffee and updated my website a beautiful ballerina came up to me and gave me her number. She wasn’t doing ballet at the time you’ll understand, I just took her word for it. Presents come in many forms it seems.
But, and you knew this story had to have a but, it sucks to be away from family. With summer Christmas in Australia, a warm house to celebrate in was a given. But it was the smell of home-cooked food and the faces of those you love right next to you which made Christmas. And that right there is the biggest drawback of life overseas. Especially so at this time of year.
But I’ve got new socks and cologne and candy, plus the number of a ballerina, so really I’m not doing too bad.
Merry Christmas everyone, stay safe and if you are near any mince pies have one for me!
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