Christmas

Christmas really snuck up on me this year. There isn't the buildup
like there is at home, and I was off and on dealing with some
digestive issues that held my attention for two weeks up until now
but I think they are over and I feel fine.

On Saturday I went with a friend to a park in the morning and walked
around. There were a few frozen lakes with people riding chairs
around on the ice. The chairs had rails to slide on. People were
skating on another lake. I threw the frisbee on the lake with my
friend. At one lake the ice had been cleared in this one area and
there were some older men swimming. I talked with them and they say
it is good for their hearts. They do it all the time and really like
swimming. I might try my hand at it next weekend.

Christmas Eve I took two Chinese friends and went to dinner with some
of my classmates at an Indian buffet restaurant. That means I stuffed
myself full of Indian food which I like to do, and watched various
people including my friend here from Mississippi get up and sing
songs. He sang some of a Chinese song that he likes. Its probably the
most famous song here right now, and it goes "I love you, only you,
like the old mouse loves the big rice." Some Indian guys eating there
started dancing, and anyone who has seen the Maggie Walker talent
show knows that Indian guys can dance.

After that we went to a 17th century Jesuit Cathedral hoping to
attend a midnight mass. But it was crowded ( I don't know how I
didn't expect it to be packed, we're in China) and the service was
ending. We didn't get a good look at the Cathedral but it seemed to
be decorated with tacky Christmas lights. Oh well, I'll go there
during a non holiday to see what its really like.

On Christmas I went and ate lunch with the Carroll's: Michael and
Corrina. We went back to their place and we played some video games,
ate dinner and watched a movie. Their dad/husband is working at the
US embassy in Afghanistan and the daughter is at school in Washington
so we were separated family members hanging out together.

Next week I have Jan 2 and 3 off for New Year's, but school on
Saturday. I just found out about this a few days ago. Sometime soon
we will have exams.

This weekend I got 14 text messages on my cellphone from Chinese
people wishing me a Merry Christmas. Some of them I know, some of
them I don't know because I don't have their numbers. Everyone I
meet, even if its for 2 seconds walking down the street, asks for my
#. I even got a "Feliz Navidad" from one girl. They are very friendly
about it, even the elevator girl in my building wished me Merry
Christmas. 祝你圣诞节快乐.

Anyways. Merry Christmas. Enjoy your holidays.