Another Christmas in Shanghai
Spending the holiday season away from family doesn’t get
easier. I’ve spent the past three years in a different country than my family,
and every year around the beginning of December, I get a little blue. Yes, I’m
with my husband who is now my family, and thank goodness for that. I am also
surrounded by people in my same situation: people who have spent many years
away from their home and continue to find warmth and holiday happiness in their
home away from home.
Christmas overseas is weird but awesome. You find yourself
creating a “friend family” quite quickly when living overseas, not just around
the holidays.
A few weeks ago, we went skating with friends. Just last
year, we spent our first Christmas in China skating with our new friends and
colleagues and it was absolutely splendid. This year was no different! We
laughed and skated and just enjoyed our company and the holiday season.
Some of the warmest, friendliest dudes in the 'hai!
Christmas Eve was spent at a hotel banquet hall watching our
students perform at a Christmas concert. We were also lucky to participate in
the show, which was a spectacle to say the least! We then were invited to a
Christmas lunch where we were showered with chocolates and praise from students
and parents. It was great!
That evening, we cooked up some vegetables and headed over
to a Christmas Eve potluck. We all enjoyed some holiday-mulled wine and
China-ed up the event with a duck and some other Chinese goodies. Despite being
so far away, I felt right at home.
Christmas Day was low key. We lazed around opening gifts,
eating for 4783, and Skyping with Mom and Dad in the morning. I got a billion
fuzzy socks (necessary for the bitter Shanghai cold and even more necessary for
the bitter cold of our uninsulated apartment). Christmas is awesome. I love it
every year!!! We’re really lucky to get Christmas as a holiday (we got
Thursday, Friday off and then the weekend). In only one month, we get Chinese
New Year festival off (almost 4 weeks!). We’ve already booked a trip to
Thailand, and to say I’m excited is the biggest understatement ever! It’ll be a
grand trip and I cannot wait!!! Not that I’m not looking forward to the next
few weeks teaching a few new units to my students and enjoying the ride that is
IB teaching. J
Life is good. Merry Christmas!
With holiday love,
Sarah have a holly jolly Wun
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