Today we celebrated Christmas. I have learned that Germans tend to actually celebrate Christmas on what we consider to be Christmas Eve and then that the 25th and 26th are considered Christmas Day one and Christmas Day two. For most of the day we just stayed in the house relaxing until it was time for dinner. We had a very nice meal (all of the meals have been nice and delicious) and then we opened presents. Everyone got a little something, even myself. Her family got me some gummy candies (my favorites), Leo got me a beautiful quartz stone necklace filled with positive energy and love and Leo’s father printed off an old (horrible) picture of Leo and I from our days in Iowa. It was so nice and I felt right at home. It was hard for me not to shed a couple tears not because I miss home and being at home for Christmas, but because I didn’t expect to feel this wonderful being away for the holidays…if that makes sense. I figured I’d be really sad and bummed out missing the holidays with my family, and I do miss it, but I’m not extremely sad because I’ve felt so at home with the Schottles.
Anyways, after the gifts, we played some German games. One was with stones and keeping rhythm and the other was a dice game. It was interesting to learn these new things and we had a lot fun and laughter. The night was winding down and eventually everyone went to bed.
For some reason I am totally exhausted. I don’t know why because I spent the whole entire day relaxing and the like. Maybe it’s all the wine.
Tomorrow we are going to her uncle’s house for the extended family Christmas feast. This could be really interesting ha-ha.
Feliz Navidad,
Maribel