Could it be for each passing Christmas, the anticipation and excitement drops. Or was it, that this year, Christmas was overshadowed by Deb and I moving to the UK? Or was it Sarinah’s wedding? No matter what it was, it sure felt different to me. I felt for the first time a lack of anticipation. This lack of looking forward to something seems to be a common thing for me lately. I guess after looking forward to getting married and moving to London, it’s going to have to take something extraordinary to top them.

Well this year also was the first time we both had Christmas away from our family. We did spend it with Deb’s uncle Joop in the Netherlands, but it’s not the same. Here I’m begining to think that I do miss the family because while we’re here in London, we’re missing out on family stuff. We both felt it when we went to Sarinah’s wedding due to the fact that we didn’t know Matt from a bar of soap. I’m sure that once we return, that’ll all change. But it’s a huge thing my family history and I feel very much left out and not a part of it being here. Christmas this year was still fun and exciting. It was different being in an another country and experiencing Christmas Dutchy style. I experienced Ollibolens for the first time (Dutch cakes made only during Christmas time). I also went iceskating outdoors, something I’ve never done before and ride to the restaurant with Debbie on the back. That was fun.

Spending time with Uncle Joop and Aunty Yoke was a blast. Both of them are just crazy. Aunty Yoke kept on wanting to dance with Joop all the time. And her obsession with Elvis is just bizarre. Eventhough it was the first time I’ve met the family there was a familiar feeling being with them. Aunty Yoke just kept on feeding me…thats something I’m familiar to. Eventhough Uncle Joop’s English wasn’t that good, we were still able to make a joke or two. It would have been even more funnier if I was able to understand Dutch, but I had fun nonetheless.

back to the top