Natalie and I also went to Prague before we hit the study craze, which I should write about separately (and you should remind me otherwise I'll never do it). I learned how to sing the alto part of 'Deilig er Jorden' with the choir which we performed at a Christmas concert and as an element of surprise at the 6th graders' Christmas dinner :) I watched more than 4 seasons of Grey's Anatomy in a month and survived through another gloomy November. Sushi dominated as my dinner of choice, but I blame Anne Margrete for being an influential role model as she does the sushi thing like.. twice a week if not every day (yea, you would if you could, right AM?)
For the moment I hope everyone is having a lovely holiday. I for one am hardly doing anything but sleeping, eating and watching films for now before I have to start revising the central nervous system as we have another pair of anatomy midterms coming up the first week back at uni.
About our Christmas traditions:
This is a sketch we (i.e. half of the TV-owning population) watch at 9pm the night before the big day. I wonder if any other nation annually airs this with the same expectation of unstoppable public laughter even though we all remember how it ends from the last time we watched it from the same spot in our couches as a break from decorating our Christmas trees.
As a prime example of Norwegian Christmas cuisine, this is what we eat every Christmas eve at 5pm sharp; looks like a pile of yucky mush but tastes like the most satisfying thing a non-vegetarian can have on December 24th. 5pm is when the Christmas bells are ringing and this well known boy choir sings carols on TV. This is the ultimate turning point when you know you have to stop cooking, start eating and already look forward to the leftovers while munching.
No idea how this all fits inside my stomach at once..
Before the cooking starts there's a mandatory film session in the morning. If you're lucky and the snow is falling down peacefully outside your window you're in for a great treat. Nowadays I just get up in time to watch the Czech film Tři oříšky pro Popelku (three wishes for Cindrella) which is one of the many things I need to do in order to feel the Christmas spirit. I missed Pinnochio this year which was a little upsetting but missing Cindrella would be dreadful. Honestly.
No idea why we are so obsessed with television during the holidays. Maybe my family is exceptionally asocial. Oh, right, my family lives in a different country. Legitimate excuse for such entertainment while everyone else is swamped with visits and get-togethers with people they pretend to like for a few nights a year. Isn't that what Christmas is about anyway? ^_^
We never decorate properly before the 23rd. My mum becomes another tea-light candle holder richer every year and my dad always goes on about how he couldn't care less about Christmas lights, decorations and presents until he silently gives in while I unpack the only box of decorations he has and give him presents that he actually seems to need or even want after all.
We continue watching films, eat leftovers, think about the fact that we are not moving our bodies further than within the triangle that is between the kitchen, bathroom and the couch, and start fiddling with our presents for another two days until the town gets back to life. If in the mood we go out on boxing day and start socialising with friends from this day until new years eve. Going for coffee, taking advantage of reduced Christmassy items to add more decorations to the Christmas tree before it all goes back into the shoeboxes...... yeah, when you get all hosewife-y at some point in your life, the latter is one of the things you will adopt into your 27th-31st December schedule. True story.
New years eve is less of a traditional day for me personally. It won't upset me as much if I don't get to do things the way they're supposed to be because there is no right way in my mind. As long as there are sparkles!!! This year I will be celebrating with a small group of friends at Sara's childhood home with the complete turkey-dinner, board games and great company :)
We continue watching films, eat leftovers, think about the fact that we are not moving our bodies further than within the triangle that is between the kitchen, bathroom and the couch, and start fiddling with our presents for another two days until the town gets back to life. If in the mood we go out on boxing day and start socialising with friends from this day until new years eve. Going for coffee, taking advantage of reduced Christmassy items to add more decorations to the Christmas tree before it all goes back into the shoeboxes...... yeah, when you get all hosewife-y at some point in your life, the latter is one of the things you will adopt into your 27th-31st December schedule. True story.
New years eve is less of a traditional day for me personally. It won't upset me as much if I don't get to do things the way they're supposed to be because there is no right way in my mind. As long as there are sparkles!!! This year I will be celebrating with a small group of friends at Sara's childhood home with the complete turkey-dinner, board games and great company :)
So that's all I could think of right now. Will be back soon with all the updates you've been longing for =)
