Definately December

Yes, it is definitely December now. Last night I lay awake listening to the wind tear at the banners across the street. I heard the walls and windows crack with cold. I could see the shadows of the wimpy little trees whipping in the wind.

One good thing about the winter in China is that it doesn’t drive people inside. Nobody rushes to their heated cars or warm houses because they don’t have them. Cold as it is, my neighbors are still sitting outside in their courtyard and their windows are open. When the temperature inside is as cold as outside, you might as well be in the sun. The mom sat (for hours) knitting on a red sweater while her son squatted nearby watching.

So I decided to brave the cold and bike to the supermarket. I put on my long underwear, SmartWool socks, big boots, coat, scarf, hat, and mittens. The air was biting and the streets formed long wind tunnels. The wind was fighting against me, pushing me back the whole way. Sometimes I felt like it would have been faster to get off and walk, but it sure was a good leg workout. It took a good deal longer than normal to get there. By the time I reached the bike parking lot, I was sweating like it was summer time, but my legs and feet were still cold.

Since it’s the beginning of December, I’m already diving into the Christmas season. I love Christmas! Christmas music is amazingly cheering, as are the little smiling snowmen on my desk. Yesterday one of my students came over and helped me decorate. I have a little tree that one of the past teachers left and even ornaments to go on it. The one disappointment was that the lights I got at the supermarket turned out to be flashing! Not okay. I’m going to have to fix that.

Faith was excited to help. It was the first time she had decorated a Christmas tree. I showed her pictures of our family Christmas tree in the past, and she exclaimed over the presents and the massive numbers of ornaments, our family specialty. I was glad to have someone else to be excited with – decorating alone is no fun.

All the students who have come over are fascinated by the cool little nativity scene my mom sent me. I try to explain the story but it’s so foreign to them. How do you really explain all the history and significance. When you talk about “the Virgin Mary” in the West, a hundred images and connotations come to mind. But they don’t have that automatic reference. I keep asking for wisdom to know how to explain it all.

Last night I invited some students over and we watched The Polar Express. They all crowded onto the couch, and we ate hot chocolate and popcorn. They were thrilled by Santa Clause and the elves and the little Christmas bell. It’s going to be really fun to share Christmas with my students!