Sunday, December 24, 2006
Traditions
In my family, Christmas Eve is the liquor holiday. It's always good to have traditions you can look forward to together. What's your family Christmas traditions?
Thursday, December 14, 2006
Christmas Time in Germany and My Journey Home
First of all, the Christmas season in Germany manages to mantain a bit of Christmas magic that I feel has been lost to me in recent years. Of course, shopping crowds on the weekends are just as bed as American ones, but the thing that brought it back for me were the Christmas (Weihnachts) Markets. The started being build late November, and then in that first week of December all the Christmas cheer was released! Wooden stands, with mossy roofs selling everything from ornaments and candles, to fish sandwhiches. On the lake, there is an ice bar (complete with a bar actually made from ice), and a skating rink. Next to the Rathaus, there is a giant Christmas tree made of lights. Of course I realize this is all just Christmas shopping, but it manages to be much more quaint and there are many handmade good available, which I always appreciate. The availability of Gluehwein helps too.
I'm not blogging from my computer, so I can't provide you with photos. I suppose how I got to this computer is perhaps interesting as well.
My last weeks in Germany were filled with hanging out with my friends, and eating at all the cheap Turkish eateries I knew I would miss once I was in the US again. I went to my first Hamburg University party, and I managed to stay out until 6am at the China Lounge, said to be one of the best discos in Europe. I also managed to find time to pack my things, clean my apartment and say goodbye. I'm never the best at goodbyes. Not because I'm sad, but because I always feel like its more of a 'Auf Weidersehen' than a 'Tschuess'. I suppose it doesn't have to be goodbye forever anyway.
So, I loaded my things into the taxi 5:45 Tuesday morning, and arrived 8:15 Tuesday evening at the Sacramento airport. Although I was silly with jet lag, I was coherent enough to have a bit of culture shock. For one, five dollar bills look huge. They just do. Also, you guys changed them while I was gone. I hadn't heard English spoken with a southern accent for quite some time, and I'd forgetten how attached Americans are to their cell phones. I'd also forgotten how much more Americans smile at people they don't know.
On the 18th I'll be returning to NC and I hope to see all your happy smiling faces soon. :-)
I'm not blogging from my computer, so I can't provide you with photos. I suppose how I got to this computer is perhaps interesting as well.
My last weeks in Germany were filled with hanging out with my friends, and eating at all the cheap Turkish eateries I knew I would miss once I was in the US again. I went to my first Hamburg University party, and I managed to stay out until 6am at the China Lounge, said to be one of the best discos in Europe. I also managed to find time to pack my things, clean my apartment and say goodbye. I'm never the best at goodbyes. Not because I'm sad, but because I always feel like its more of a 'Auf Weidersehen' than a 'Tschuess'. I suppose it doesn't have to be goodbye forever anyway.
So, I loaded my things into the taxi 5:45 Tuesday morning, and arrived 8:15 Tuesday evening at the Sacramento airport. Although I was silly with jet lag, I was coherent enough to have a bit of culture shock. For one, five dollar bills look huge. They just do. Also, you guys changed them while I was gone. I hadn't heard English spoken with a southern accent for quite some time, and I'd forgetten how attached Americans are to their cell phones. I'd also forgotten how much more Americans smile at people they don't know.
On the 18th I'll be returning to NC and I hope to see all your happy smiling faces soon. :-)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
