Saturday, December 24, 2011
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve has always been my favorite day of the year. Always. It trumps Thanksgiving, my birthday, summer vacation...it trumps every day of the year for me. There is this feeling on Christmas Eve that isn't found any other day of the year. It's the day before Christmas...you are so close to that special celebration, but not quite there yet. All the sweet anticipation that has been building during the Christmas season is at it's highest. You get to spend the day with the people you love with easy smiles and laughter, everyone looking forward to the following day. A celebration of birth, life, relationships and love.
Or at least it should be that way. Things are a little different here.
A majority of the population here sees Christmas in a different way than myself - They view the day as a commercialized celebration of the exchanging of goods, they mark it in passing as the day people observe the birth of the prophet Jesus, or just a day with extra hassle where they must set up a tree and search for ways to convince their child that Santa still exists. So the magic of Christmas Eve is lost.
It's a hard day for me. It doesn't feel like Christmas here as hard as I know my housemates and I have tried to make it. Christmas Eve just feels like another day. Add on top of that extenuating circumstances that make me want to be home more than anything I've ever wanted and you have what the day feels like to me. Hollow. Like I'm missing something. And I am. Its hard not to when celebrating Christmas in a different country away from family. As much as I love the people I am surrounded with I imagine there will always be a void when your family is a continent away.
So this Christmas Eve I ask you to do something for me. Watch your family smile, make them laugh, play games and enjoy being in each others presence. Hug your loved ones so tight they tell you they can't breath...most important of all embrace the holiday. Feel the excitement and anticipation of Christmas Eve in yourself and those around you. Have a merry Christmas celebrating Christ's birth surrounded by the people you love.
Or at least it should be that way. Things are a little different here.
A majority of the population here sees Christmas in a different way than myself - They view the day as a commercialized celebration of the exchanging of goods, they mark it in passing as the day people observe the birth of the prophet Jesus, or just a day with extra hassle where they must set up a tree and search for ways to convince their child that Santa still exists. So the magic of Christmas Eve is lost.
It's a hard day for me. It doesn't feel like Christmas here as hard as I know my housemates and I have tried to make it. Christmas Eve just feels like another day. Add on top of that extenuating circumstances that make me want to be home more than anything I've ever wanted and you have what the day feels like to me. Hollow. Like I'm missing something. And I am. Its hard not to when celebrating Christmas in a different country away from family. As much as I love the people I am surrounded with I imagine there will always be a void when your family is a continent away.
So this Christmas Eve I ask you to do something for me. Watch your family smile, make them laugh, play games and enjoy being in each others presence. Hug your loved ones so tight they tell you they can't breath...most important of all embrace the holiday. Feel the excitement and anticipation of Christmas Eve in yourself and those around you. Have a merry Christmas celebrating Christ's birth surrounded by the people you love.
Friday, December 23, 2011
Thursday, December 22, 2011
Dear Ireland...
I never thought I would find a place that I would consider as beautiful as my birthplace, but I have. I never thought I would find a place that I equated with serenity that wasn't my home, but I have. I never thought I would find a place that felt like it soothed my soul that wasn't situated in a Mennonite community, but I have. I never thought I would find a place that I would miss which I was only just beginning to discover, but I have. You have stolen a piece of my heart.
Sincerely,
Me
Sincerely,
Me
Wednesday, December 14, 2011
Hi American Teacher!
I love going to school. I love working with my teacher and the students. I love the people I've gotten to know. I love that I no longer have to walk there. I pretty much just love everything about it...but my most favorite favorite favorite thing of all....is the odd things the children say to me on a regular basis. I finally decided I really should share with you some of the things they say so you can chuckle right along with me :)
While walking to lunch one day I was pretty much stopped in my tracks when one little boy (who I should point out I don't know and have no idea how he knew who I was) said, "Hello American teacher!" I must say I was so surprised to be addressed that way that everything in my head just sort of disappeared and all I could think of to say was, "Hello" right back.
I often have children commenting on my accent. They love it which means I get to hear many funny things about it including but not limited to:
1. Miss how do you say (insert word) in your language?
2. Miss when I get older I'm going to learn American.
3. Miss I love your accent.
4. Are you a movie star Miss? You sound like the people in movies.
5. Miss what language do you speak?
One day I was asked, "Miss I weigh ___ stones. How many stones are you?" The only reply I had was "If I knew what a stone was I would tell you." They seemed to think that was hilarious.
One of the funniest conversations I've ever been a part of was completely random and off topic (Sorry Miss Bennett, sometimes I let them distract me from keeping them on track).
student "Miss, who is the royal family in your country"
me "we don't have a royal family in the US"
student "you don't have a royal family Miss?"
me "not anymore. Our royal family used to be your royal family a long time ago"
student "oh. what happened miss?"
me "well, America decided it didn't want to listen to the British any more so there was a war"
student "a war between you and us?"
2nd student "yeah the American revolution" (or whatever they call it. I can't remember)
student "oh yeah! did we win miss?"
me "no, actually we did"
student "you beat us?"
me "yeah"
2nd student "then why are you here?"
me "because we are allies now. We are friends and get along"
2nd student "then why do you still celebrate the 4th of July"
....sigh. I can't remember how the conversation ended but I'm sure I was fighting a losing battle.
The way they use words throws me for a loop occasionally as well like when I had a little girl tell me one day "Miss your shoes are proper cute"... I learned not long after that that they often use the words proper and well in place of so or really when we all just mean very. Quite confusing.
A fun thing lately has been their topic of this term. They are learning about space and covered the moon landing. Part of their education on this was to hear some of the conspiracy theories which now has them all convinced that the US never made it to the moon. With the for or against the conspiracy I am solidly outnumbered 30 to 1. One little boy told me today "Miss I don't believe it. It never happened." Well we will just see about that when they learn they can't believe everything they hear (you can't see me but I am currently snickering and rubbing my hands together in anticipation of Miss Bennett teaching them the counter arguments to the conspiracy theories).
Probably some of my favorite things they say are along the lines of "Miss you go back to America?," "Miss are you coming back?," "I'll miss you Miss," "Miss are you staying with us the whole time?," "Miss When will you be back?"....
I love those children :)
While walking to lunch one day I was pretty much stopped in my tracks when one little boy (who I should point out I don't know and have no idea how he knew who I was) said, "Hello American teacher!" I must say I was so surprised to be addressed that way that everything in my head just sort of disappeared and all I could think of to say was, "Hello" right back.
I often have children commenting on my accent. They love it which means I get to hear many funny things about it including but not limited to:
1. Miss how do you say (insert word) in your language?
2. Miss when I get older I'm going to learn American.
3. Miss I love your accent.
4. Are you a movie star Miss? You sound like the people in movies.
5. Miss what language do you speak?
One day I was asked, "Miss I weigh ___ stones. How many stones are you?" The only reply I had was "If I knew what a stone was I would tell you." They seemed to think that was hilarious.
One of the funniest conversations I've ever been a part of was completely random and off topic (Sorry Miss Bennett, sometimes I let them distract me from keeping them on track).
student "Miss, who is the royal family in your country"
me "we don't have a royal family in the US"
student "you don't have a royal family Miss?"
me "not anymore. Our royal family used to be your royal family a long time ago"
student "oh. what happened miss?"
me "well, America decided it didn't want to listen to the British any more so there was a war"
student "a war between you and us?"
2nd student "yeah the American revolution" (or whatever they call it. I can't remember)
student "oh yeah! did we win miss?"
me "no, actually we did"
student "you beat us?"
me "yeah"
2nd student "then why are you here?"
me "because we are allies now. We are friends and get along"
2nd student "then why do you still celebrate the 4th of July"
....sigh. I can't remember how the conversation ended but I'm sure I was fighting a losing battle.
The way they use words throws me for a loop occasionally as well like when I had a little girl tell me one day "Miss your shoes are proper cute"... I learned not long after that that they often use the words proper and well in place of so or really when we all just mean very. Quite confusing.
A fun thing lately has been their topic of this term. They are learning about space and covered the moon landing. Part of their education on this was to hear some of the conspiracy theories which now has them all convinced that the US never made it to the moon. With the for or against the conspiracy I am solidly outnumbered 30 to 1. One little boy told me today "Miss I don't believe it. It never happened." Well we will just see about that when they learn they can't believe everything they hear (you can't see me but I am currently snickering and rubbing my hands together in anticipation of Miss Bennett teaching them the counter arguments to the conspiracy theories).
Probably some of my favorite things they say are along the lines of "Miss you go back to America?," "Miss are you coming back?," "I'll miss you Miss," "Miss are you staying with us the whole time?," "Miss When will you be back?"....
I love those children :)
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