That time

Christmas away from home. Away from those who know me and those I love. Away from the family and the traditions, away from the comfort of the familiar. This year I am in another nation, among another people, celebrating in another way. There is no tree setting up in the little alcove, no reminiscing over old ornaments, wondering which one would break in transit from the box to the tree this year. There’s no getting out all the snowmen, setting them up on nanas hutch and remembering when we made them. There’s no watching of Rudolph or frosty, no singing together near the tree, no snuggling with warm blankets watching one of mom’s dorky movies. There’s no pickle hidden around his house, no watching people open presents on nana’s orange couch. There’s no baking of a million cookies, and eating the measly chocolate chips for the stained glass goodies. There’s no wrapping gifts in newspaper, no making little things to offer at family Christmas.  There are no pickles, no olives, no dried fruit. No stockings, no waking up early to see all the loot. There’s no present under the tree on Christmas day, no relaxing feelings of being together to celebrate freedom and life. there’s no gifts from Obama or Mao, no long car trips to see other family in Ohio. There’s no hide and seek with cousins, hikes in the rain and extended family or football loving. There’s no endless amounts of food and gouda cheese, there’s no smelt, eel or octopus, or other weird things. There’s no sleeping on the floor at the aunts house, there’s stash to snack from as we go back to our house.

But let me tell you what there is. There is a new community. A new family of sorts. An eclectic one, for sure. There is a tree and some decorations around the living room. There have been a couple movies (not exactly Christmas ones, but movies nonetheless.) There has been food made and shared. There has been time together. There has been a mass shopping trip to the Sam’s Club type store here. There has been a gift exchange. And a dinner together of incredible deliciousness. There has been lots of cooking and cleaning and rearranging to invite people in. There has been time to laugh and talk. There have been guests to eat another diner with us. Our Chinese colleagues. There has been an exchange in the reminiscent memories of Christmas’ past. There has been singing together, reading together, p raying together. There has been planning together and bonding through all of those plans being changed every few minutes. There has been a third dinner hosting all of the important people of Beijing. And their kids. Possibly 45+ guests all packed into the living room, meeting each other, cutting cookies together, kids singing and making crafts together, faces being made, games being played. There is cookie decorating and lots of eating. Little girls in dresses and Chinese being practiced. There has been a guest appearance of Santa, portrayed by yours truly. And the shining children’s faces as they touched my nose and my “beard.”  There has been rest and reunion with friends on a Sunday, time to try to sleep with no success before a impulsive trip to Shanghai to explore. There has been joy and exhaustion and being able to share Christmas with people who may have never celebrated it in any way before. There has been a lady, a dear sweet colleague, who brings tears to my eyes with her constant service to others. Her constant love screamed through her actions. A sweet sweet lady who I thank G od for. There has been apples received and hot cocoa found and enjoyed.  There has been many a song sung an many a verse read about the life changing events that we remember. There has been life shared together.

This year, there has been no Indiana, no Ohio, no Dispenzas or Soloveikos. But there has been Christmas nonetheless. And I’m so thankful for that.