...not "Silent Night". Oh, Christmas has already come and gone and I am still somewhat overwhelmed by the experience of it all in a foreign country. Never could I have been prepared for the non-stop messages, phone calls, visits, cards, and gifts on December 24th (and also a bit on the 25th). I was expecting a quiet holiday but the messages started coming at 7am and lasted until I went to bed at 1am on December 25th. There
were times when I was returning phone messages, heard knocking on the door, and had a phone call come in at the same time. At 8pm (Dec. 24) I was tempted to turn off the lights in my apartment and also turn off my phone, curl up into a little ball and cover my ears so that I could not hear another 'Merry Christmas'...owh how I felt like Scrooge. I resisted the temptation though and kept answering the door and phone and returning messages until 1 in the morning (in Canada calling after 10pm is almost unacceptable...apparently around 2 or 3am is unacceptable here). Anyway...I got a multitude of gifts and thoughtful cards. In fact, even though I went to bed at 1am I woke up in the morning and found a bag with more Christmas cards hanging on my door. Oh the love. 
I escaped some of the madness by going to the city on the morning of the 25th to celebrate Christmas with other foreigners. We had a lovely Christmas dinner...turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy, vegetables, buns etc. and even cheesecake. I REALLY wanted some cheesecake and so I decided to see if I am still lactose intolerant - and I am. BLAH.
Then I spent the evening watching Gilmore Girls at the home of some fellow
Even though this Christmas was very different from other Christmasses I have ever experienced - it was most definitely meaningful! Oh the excitement when I get a card from abroad (Canada/Holland). Also, it was very great to tell some 800 students a Christmas story which most of them had never heard before... Meaningful it was!
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