I knew it was going to be hard to be away on Thanksgiving. I mean, I dealt with it last year; I survived. But for some reason this year was a lot more difficult for me. I spent all day yesterday in classes just wishing I could be home - even if it was only for the 24 hours of the holiday, I just wanted to be home. With family, eating more food than should be allowed, curled up by the wood-stove, watching the parade, watching Miracle on 34th Street on TV instead of downloading it from iTunes to watch off my laptop (hey, you cannot not watch it Thanksgiving night).
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Actually, almost all the Americans I know in this program were in a funk yesterday. We shared Thanksgiving with our friends on Saturday - and they get it; the food, the time spent with friends. But they don't get it. They were confused as to why it mattered so much for us to be home, to be able to get back to the dorm if only to call home and pretend you're there for a few moments video chatting through Skype (which, in case you weren't aware, is the most amazing invention ever). How do you explain the sentiment that comes along with a holiday if you haven't grown knowing how to feel it?
School is almost over - 2 weeks of classes left. The stress is pouring down like a monsoon, and I'm just treading water - trying to get as much done as possible before I get home. Who wants to be writing papers and studying over vacation? Not this girl!
Tips & Tricks for a Budget-Friendly Holiday Season
I am not the best person to ask this question to!
Here are a few, tiny, things I try to keep in mind:
1) your family and friends don't want you to go broke:
if you can't afford it, don't buy it.
2) Christmas Cards - what you write in them may be more
important than any present you can give.
3) No one remembers what the wrapping paper looked like,
so don't spend a fortune on fancy paper.
And finally
The biggest reason to be thankful
that Thanksgiving is over:
I can, finally, play the
N*Sync Christmas Album
All. I. Want.
Good tips!
ReplyDeleteGreat tips!
ReplyDeleteI understand that feeling. Hang in there...Christmas break is coming!
ReplyDeleteThis post "hit home" with me! 1st off, skype is the best thing ever! How is something so amazing free!? I dont know what I would do without being able to "see" my family through video calls. I dont really like talking on the phone but I can seriously video chat all day haha! This was the first Thanksgiving I've spent away from home and it was pretty hard! All I could think of was how I wanted to be at home sitting by the fireplace eating pumpkin pie! I'm lucky I'm going home for Christmas so I've just been trying to keep busy, looking forward to that! But anyways, I totally understand you on the sentiment thing :)
ReplyDelete