Merry (late) Christmas! I can't believe it's almost the New Year...time is moving so fast that I cannot keep up. I spent the week preparing to leave for the holiday break, attending birthday parties, attempting to wrap gifts, and preparing for Christmas.
The beauty of moving abroad alone is it forces you to make new friendships, and I can proudly say that over the past few months I have made many. I attended one of those new friends' birthday party earlier in the week, where we celebrated with homemade and very delicious Indian food and many other amazing dishes.
Almost everyone at the party had moved to Spain within the last few months similar to me and came alone, or knew very few people. So it's amazing to know that all of us moved here knowing no one, but can now say that we have gained amazing friends from all over the world.
My older students started a new project after their rocketships, and to stick with the subject of space, the students were tasked with creating a solar system model. Similar to the rocketships, they had free range to design and create what they wanted, and once again I've been amazed at what they created. While there were still some days I questioned if they were capable enough to hold scissors and not stab another student, it all paid off in the end when the students showcased their models to their parents and school on the last day of school.
While I didn't spend Christmas in Spain, I did learn a little about the traditions they have. Similar to the U.S., in the Basque country, children are visited by Olentzero, who is similar to Santa Claus. He instead wears traditional Basque clothes with his pipe he smokes and lives up in the mountains. He is very cute, and while I love Santa Claus, I think Olentzero might be my new favorite.
Instead of staying in Spain, I flew to Italy and have been with the family I lived with last year. I've missed them so much, and while the kids and I talk on the phone once a week, nothing beats all of the hugs and cuddles they give in person. We had pizza for dinner on the 24th and left presents, tangerines, and water for Father Christmas.
Father Christmas came on Christmas Eve, but instead of waiting till the next morning, the children open their gifts the same night. I was even lucky enough that Father Christmas remembered I was in Italy and dropped me off a few surprises as well.
While it was a great Christmas and I'm thankful for having a place to go, so I wouldn't spend the holidays alone, being that it was my first Christmas away from home was hard. One of the downsides to moving to a new country is missing out on holidays and other memories you would usually share with family and friends back home. I am grateful for new traditions I've gotten to experience though and new memories and friendships made along the way. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Feliz Navidad, Buon Natale, Eguberri on!
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