Holiday Spirit

You know the feeling you get during the holidays? The one they write songs about like, "It's the most wonderful time of the year...." When you find yourself saying "Merry Christmas" to random strangers, or when you are shopping in the mall and you run into everyone you know and they are all there buying presents just like you. Or on Christmas Day/Thanksgiving Day when you drive down the road and everything is closed, and everyone you see is on their way to family's houses. Or even sometimes that feeling when OU/OSU is playing and everyone you see at Walmart is wearing either crimson or orange and buying chips, hamburger buns, etc. I think it is the feeling of something expected, a common, shared experience. I am not sure how to explain it but hopefully you know what I am talking about. It is what I have missed here during November and December.



But....then January came. I wasn't sure a holiday spirit could be found here, but when I am the only one celebrating...what do you expect. Now, there is quite the feeling of anticipation here. Starting this weekend, schools let out for anywhere from 30-40 days (depending on your school). You see this is the one time of year EVERYONE goes home. Students, adults, children, all go to their hometowns to visit family and relatives . All weekend the roads have been crowded, everywhere you look you see students carrying luggage: a rice bag, their comforter, and a duffle bag. As well as gifts for their family. I had to go to the train station this weekend for an errand, and I can't even begin to describe to you masses of people who were there. The train station is not the place I want to be for the next few weeks. I have learned a lot about this holiday from my friends here. They look forward to it immensely and it is as if the world stops for a few days while favorite foods are eaten, old friends are reunited, and family comes together. Even Walmart has been transformed into a Red (the fav color of the holiday) splash of color. You need red plates, red clothes, red underwear and socks, red everything. The best is that this is the year of the cow, in case you didn't know, so there are red cows all over the place. Everyone is buying food, candies, etc. I am glad to find that the holiday spirit is here, just a little later than what I am used to.



And what about us? While I wish I could pack my rice bag and head home and visit my family and friends for a few weeks, I am packing my suitcase to visit family of another kind. We are looking forward to a few days vacation with some friends on the beach. I did get an invitation to spend the new year with a family here in our city. They live in the first floor apartment of the building where I have language class. When they learned I wouldn't be going home to America to visit family, they immediately invited me to be apart of theirs. I was very honored, but humbly declined. Where I am going there will be a Starbucks and other food I would like to eat. But most importantly, 90 degree weather and a beach!!! All in all, it will be a fun holiday and I am glad for the holiday spirit lasting a little longer here in our house!!