Christmas, homesickness and resoloutions.

Well, I've completed my first Christmas abroad. And let me say for starters, it wasn't easy.
But it was worth the new experiences.
I spent Christmas with my friend Emma and her co-workers Betty and Arron and Arron's sister Lauren. Emma is from Wollongong, Betty from Cork and Arron from Richmond (near Leeds). We had ourselves a lovely little international Christmas. We ate lots of food, opened gifts, drank, played cards and made a merry time. It was a lot of fun, because we were all in the same boat and in the same frame of mind; We're not at home with our families, so let's become our own family.

As much fun and as memorable as it was, it was hard for all of us I think.
I missed having perogies, kutia, borscht and pampushky. I missed driving down Wellington Crescent to see the lights on Christmas eve. I missed opening my stocking on the living room floor while the fireplace crackled and a Ukrainian Christmas CD playing on the DVD player with Dad yelling,"IT'S CHRISTMAS!" when Mom objects. Or the even frantic rush to get brunch ready before the priest and Grandma come by and whining about being so hungry before we sit down and then stuffing myself until I can't move anyway. Sitting in Uncle Bernie and Aunty Barb's living room with my cousins watching Christmas movies. I missed Boxing Day, waking up at dawn to go to Youth Parliament and Dad buying me apple juice and Tim Horton's breakfast on the way in. I missed Aunty Karen's lemon curd and shortbread and Uncle Vic & Dad drinking too much red wine.
I really missed my family.
But I think I grew a lot from the experience. As homesick as I was (and admittedly, still am) I got to have a great Christmas with wonderful people, and many things to be thankful for. All the while reminding myself for the umpteenth time that I'm so fortunate to be doing what I love, traveling. And I'm very thankful for that.

New Years/Hogmannay is this weekend and although my boss is making me work New Year's Day, I'm still going all night for the Hogmannay experience. He said he wouldn't be upset if I was hungover, so I'm taking that to heart.
And I have some New Year's resolutions:
1.)Keep exercising and eating healthy.
2.)Get a job in a pub.
3.)Make some friends.
4.)Save up for a cheap trip to the European continent or Ireland.
5.)Keep having fun.

Playlist: The Weakerthans.