Hej alle,
How was your holiday season? Mine was good... relatively.
I guess my explaination of Christmas should start a bit earlier than the 24th. My Christmas this year began with December 1st. In Denmark they celebrate Christmas everyday in December. They have these things called Advent calendars and every morning in December you get to open a little piece of your calender which will then traditionally give you a cholocate. Most people only have one, Christina and William had like eight. I honestly have no idea why. I had three, one from the ice cream man (which was a scratch off one where you can win ice cream,) the second was given to me by Lisbeth's sister (which was a Haribo candy calander,) and the last was from Lisbeth (which gave Make-up!)
In Denmark they also celebrate the four Sundays before Christmas. So every Sunday we would all sit together at breakfast, like we normally do, and like another candle. It reminds me of the candles in Hanukkah but for Sundays.
My next realization of Christmas was the 20th. That day I had dinner with all of the Australians and Americans and we celebrated an Aussie Crissie (Australian Christmas.) It was pretty damn awesome. We all sat around for hours eating sausage sandwichs and Pavolova (, named after Anna Pavlova-a famous ballerina.) A typical Aussie Chrissie is celebrated in your backyard with all of the adults standing around drinking beer and all of the kids swimming in the pool. (In case you forgot, when America has winter Australia has Summer because they're in the Southern Hemisphere.) The food was delicious, but Caity promised me a true blue Aussie barbe (a real Australian barbecue,) when I visit in spring of 2012.
That same night I had my classes Christmas party. (Just incase I forgot to tell you guys, in Denmark you have one class you stay with for all 3 years and go to every class with.) Let's just say that Danish parties are sooooo much different from American parties. I do have to say, it's not always that fun obeying all of Rotary's 5 D's (Drinking, Driving, Dating, Drugs, and Debt,) but at this party it was. Everyone, and I mean everyone, except me was completely smashed drunk off of snaps and Christmas beer. I spent hours watching people run around and make fools of themselves while I took pictures that will probably make me laugh for the rest of my life. I stayed with a girl in my class, Katrine, that night because she lives in town. I'm pretty sure we left around 4 or 5 the next morning.
My next Christmas was one that was a lot more about family and less about drinking. The Danes celebrate Christmas on the 24th. So that morning we all woke up and ate breakfast together, as always, and patiently awaited the arrival of Lisbeth's and Mik's parents. That night we all lit candles and put them on the tree (yes, real live actual flaming candles on a tree...) We then preceded to dance around the tree and house while we sang songs. The experience was definitly different. Afterwards we opened presents. Lisbeth's and Mik's parents were nice enoguh to get me small presents (which I hadn't expected) and of course I got a few from my host parents and siblings. Unfortunately my package from my parents has still yet to arrive which is saddening but I know it will make it all the better when it eventually shows up :)
Christmas Day was atrocious (if I spelled that right.) I haven't mentioned until this point that I had contracted a lung infection and was pretty much not able to function or sing... (for those of you who have seen my Youtube video you already know this, hehe.) So, Lisbeth decided to let me stay home. So I spent Christmas alone... all by myself... while I was sick... and my parents were in Mexico... Sadness
I'm just now starting to get over the lung infection. I can sing again, but I have to reherse for 4 hours tonight and I have no idea how my voice is going to take that.
New Years was good, I'll tell you more about it when I have time.
~Jasmine H
My next Christmas was one that was a lot more about family and less about drinking. The Danes celebrate Christmas on the 24th. So that morning we all woke up and ate breakfast together, as always, and patiently awaited the arrival of Lisbeth's and Mik's parents. That night we all lit candles and put them on the tree (yes, real live actual flaming candles on a tree...) We then preceded to dance around the tree and house while we sang songs. The experience was definitly different. Afterwards we opened presents. Lisbeth's and Mik's parents were nice enoguh to get me small presents (which I hadn't expected) and of course I got a few from my host parents and siblings. Unfortunately my package from my parents has still yet to arrive which is saddening but I know it will make it all the better when it eventually shows up :)
Christmas Day was atrocious (if I spelled that right.) I haven't mentioned until this point that I had contracted a lung infection and was pretty much not able to function or sing... (for those of you who have seen my Youtube video you already know this, hehe.) So, Lisbeth decided to let me stay home. So I spent Christmas alone... all by myself... while I was sick... and my parents were in Mexico... Sadness
I'm just now starting to get over the lung infection. I can sing again, but I have to reherse for 4 hours tonight and I have no idea how my voice is going to take that.
New Years was good, I'll tell you more about it when I have time.
~Jasmine H
