Christmas below the equator is always a funny experience for us North
Americans, I think. (BTW, I've been trying to figure out which way the
drain goes down, but for some reason this seems to be more difficult
than I expected. More updates to come.) Last Saturday I walked into
town listening to Karen Carpenter sing I'll Be Home For Christmas while
getting a massive sunburn on my neck. This week we had Christmas carols
during our Friday night potluck (I made samosas, which turned out pretty
good), but it's hard to feel much sympathy for good King Wencelas
tramping through the snow while you're sweating against the couch.
Poinsettia plants are replaced by poinsettia trees, snow-shoeing is
replaced with swimming in the pool, and Christmas trees are replaced by
fake ones, or nothing at all. And of course, your family is a long way
away. But that being said, what Christmas here really brings home is
the message of what the Episcopal church calls Advent -- appreciating
Jesus coming in the past, and wishing he'd come back soon. Suffering
deserves to end.
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Isn't it interesting how our images of Christmas are influenced by our own regional experiences? The weather in the middle east can get a bit cool this time of the year, but it isn't unusual to find the temp in the 80s some times.
Good to hear that you are finding family and connection in your new home for this Christmas!
Can you get eggnog over there?
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