h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

In a fit of procrastination, I have decided to update my hootoo journal.

Today is beat up Amy day.

I sliced open my thumb this morning while washing up a knife. Then, while in town, slipped on a metal cover on the side of a slope and fell to the ground. Luckily, I had just bought a new towel, which softened my fall. I suppose it really does pay to carry a towel with you at all times.

Uni-wise, I have two essays due next Thing. One is in hand-in-able draft form, the other is still in my head. I'm desperately trying to convince myself that I need to finish the second 5,000 word essay this week, not next, but I'm not succeeding.

Have spent Christmas away from home for the first time. Was with Clive's family, but it just wasn't quite the same. I had a good Christmas, but I won't lie. It was hard.

Other than that, Norwich is rainy and windy, though not particularly cold.

And for right now, I think that is all.

For what it's worth... that first Christmas away from the warm embrace of your parent's home is the worst one. In time, you'll develop new traditions and memories to fill the gap -- but you will savor each fleeting taste, smell, sound and sight that reminds you of those fond 'Christmi' past for the rest of your life.



Amy

Amen to that. I think this one was especially difficult because British Christmasses are just so significantly different from American ones. Nothing familiar at all.

AW

The same could be said for Christmases with TJ's family! That's a *big* group of people! I like "our" mellow Christmas better.

for Amy!

Awwww. No one could blame you for developing a distaste for an Ohio Christmas, Shea. Don't they just suck?


Amy, as you make a life in a foreign country, I'm sure there will be times when you'll long for the familiar... as much as you've been attracted to the intriguing things that brought you there. Eventually, you'll have great memories built in both places... give it some time.


As for me, I hates Christmas with a passion, I do.

At least it was only 5 people with Richard's family, Shea, all of which I know relatively well. But I think I was expecting "my" Christmas, just transported. I had nothing of the sort.

Shea

AW- only *times*? Been missing American type things left and right here. And it's true, I still like the things about England that I've always liked - but I do miss the familiar, especially in times of massive stress (bank messes, general disorganization, moving rooms, etc, etc - don't know how much mom told you).

I've always liked Christmas. I feel like I didn't quite get one this year.

Hadn't you noticed that Christmas with my parents is nothing like Christmas with your Dad's parents? And that neither of those is exactly like the Christmas we have at home?

It's always different in every family.

The foreign country, with it's own customs just adds to the differences.

I'm sorry you didn't enjoy Christmas, Amy. Even if my first Christmas with TJ and his family was very different (what's with Ohio and jello salads? And all of that pork! ) and headache-inducing, it was better than the Christmas before when I got home and cried because he wasn't with me.

Mmm, I had noticed... but at least they're all got some things in common. This one was totally alien, I think. There was a tree and turkey. That was about all that was familiar... even had different carols... and no Charlie Brown's Christmas Special. (though I did just get my card, and that made me insanely happy).

Pork - for Christmas?!

Richard's family did gammon and turkey both at once, but I hear that's normal in these parts. And christmas runs for two days here... Christmas day AND Boxing day. That's a bit weird.

You're from Amish Country - Didn't I ever tell you that they have 2-day Christmases too? First Christmas is on Christmas day, Second Christmas is the day after. This gives them a chance to visit with both sides of the family.

A lot of people in the US do both Turkey and Ham for Christmas too - or just Ham. For some people, turkey is really only for Thanksgiving.

Glad you liked your card. I bought it for you *before* you mentioned that they don't do the Charlie Brown Christmas special over there, knowing that it was one of your favorite Christmas Specials. (It was hard not to tell you about it - and I was upset that there was no way you were going to get it before Christmas)

I knew that, honest I did.

I had a whole slew of cards in my disparate mailboxes when I got back here. Made me very, very happy.

I admit - it came as a surprise to me to hear about all the 'traditional' things were were apparently missing.

I hope we gave Amanda a good Christmas, but I know how hard it was for her to be away from home at such an important time.

Your shirt has dried out then?

It wasn't my shirt, it was the anything-else exposed to the rain / gale

Clive - So tell me, what did you think of US Christmas? (at least the version we have in our family ) Terribly different from what you're used to? Did you miss the British version of traditional Christmas?

Did you get that great card that sang too? I sent it to my sister! I also got TJ the soundtrack from Charlie Brown Christmas for ... erm ... Christmas. He must have listened to it 20 times!

Were you ing on Clive's shirt? That's why I married "terry" ... very absorbant!

s to my two favorite people on that side of the pond!

I've not checked in for a couple of days so I have just read post one, hope ya thumb is feeling better.