As the end of December comes closer, I get more and more invitations to Christmassy events. Last night I went to the Winter Jamboree at the Guild and it was pretty much lovely. I got a henna tattoo (which isn't too pretty, I must say, but at least I can scratch an item of my bucket list), a poem written especially for me (printed below), sweets from a piñata (though I didn't wack it myself), some Indian deepfried things I forgot the name of already (sorry Steven) and some spicy Chinese food (which I gave to Andy). I also saw some horrible music piece from the Theatre Society (which was basically them dancing and singing to Glee songs), a rather unsynchronised dance by BodySoc (with one ginger guy surrounded by a bunch of girls and doing the same moves, which was rather disturbingly funny), a nice Chinese dance (with traditional clothing and pretty pink fans) and some lovely Bollywood dancing (which left me bouncing in my seat). There was also a piece by the Reenactment Society (prompting a rather geeky conversation between Steven and I about who was Royalist and who was Parliamentarian) and a 15min show by Sticky Floor (which started off a little rough but ended nicely). The only real downside of the evening was the raffle (in which I didn't participate) which lasted for at least ten minutes, solely consisting of a guy calling of numbers which nobody had.
Tonight Cafe Home (the international student society I am part of and help to organise) is going to a Carol Concert (yet another item on my bucketlist I will be able to cross off), something I am very much looking forward to. After that I will probably head down to a Christmas party organised by some of my church friends, where I will taste a mince pie for the first time in my life (though I might have one before, at the carol concert), accompagnied by mulled wine (which we like to call 'Glühwein', a term very blatantly stolen from the Germans).
On Monday the Frisbee team has its Christmas meal, in which I shall be participating and which more or less constitutes my first English Christmas meal. However, I have a slight feeling I might have to wait for the crackers and partyhats (there is some special name for them which I don't exactly recall right now) til Thursday, when I will celebrate Christmas with my dear friends Tom, Liz, Jonny and Anne (and probably Anne's boyfriend, Matt). In between I might hop over to the cinema for a beautiful rendition of C.S.Lewis's "Voyage of the Dawn Treader" (something I am very much looking forward to) on Wednesday night. Friday will be an extremely busy day, as I will have two Christmas parties to attend, both the Cafe Home one (international students) and the Christmas party at Barrington Road (church people). I am not sure how I am going to juggle those two but I am sure I'll find a way.
After all these parties, I have a mere four days left before I leave for Belgium, something I am very excited about. I have never looked forward to going home this much, not even when I felt so homesick in November. For the first time in years, Christmas has this magical attraction to me, like a fairytale I will be completely immersed in for two weeks. I of course know this is a rather unrealistic expectation, but I can't help dreaming about being home, in front of the fire, thick socks on my feet, feet on the new hardwood floors, Christmas tree in the corner, brother playing at my feet and my cat on my lap. I still have to decide what books to take, what clothes to wear, how and when to giftwrap my presents, but for now, dreaming will do. It is strange how much a holiday like this can make you long for home. I am going home for Christmas, and though I've technically done the same thing for the last four years, this year I am not just going home, I am coming home. No matter how lovely Liverpool might be, Belgium is still the place which holds my heart, which I call home, where I belong. This might all change with time, but right now, I can't wait to go home.
Hanne
She gets funny looks
for carrying her history books
She just loves the past
She thinks it's a blast
She's from Belgium, but loves it here
She's a lovely girl, she's such a dear
De boom staat er sinds vanavond! Siem heeft hem helpen versieren.
ReplyDeleteDe film van Narnia draait hier ook. Misschien ga ik er wel heen met Siem. In 3D!
't Is de reis van het drakenschip en er komen draken in voor, dus hij zal het heerlijk vinden!
ReplyDeletethat mince-pie you already ate when we were in England as a family. Long time ago, I agree, but it is not gone be the first mince-pie you're gone eat!
ReplyDeleteand by the way, what do the higher study-fees imply for your study plans? Still going on, or will the higher cost make it impossible to complet your year??
ReplyDeleteThey shouldn't change during the time I'm studying, I'm already on a pay-plan =)
ReplyDelete