It's no white Christmas,

but my Thai Christmas has been pretty good. Thoughts of you dear reader, and of all my family and friends, are dancing in my head even as I enjoy my modest little Christmas here. Midnight mass (my first ever!) entirely in Thai, singing Christmas carols in front of 1500 students, teaching three classes, and a pad thai Christmas dinner with friends. And of course, opening presents that have traveled across one very big ocean to get here.



Merry Christmas and happy holidays to all.

With a heart full of cheer,
Rebecca

P.S. It appears no one told the person in charge of this display in Bangkok that there's a difference between Christmas elves and the seven dwarves. I guess it's an understandable confusion. Being here, and explaining Christmas traditions to students, has really driven home how bizarre the holiday season is in some ways. Trying to communicate through a language barrier that I am not a Christian but that I still celebrate Christmas has proved difficult. And hearing myself say that "in my country all the children think that a fat man comes down their chimney once a year"...pretty great. On the other hand, I've never had better insight into the depth of the sad Christmas songs like "I'll be home for Christmas," and "Blue Christmas."