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

Shea

Christmas in the U.S - it was different but not dissapointingly so, it was rather for me a unique a wonderful change.

We, for instance, never go out to look at the decorations in our neighbourhood. Principally because the phenomenon of house-dressing hasn't really taken off in a big way in the UK. It struck me at the time that, as we all drove out, as being a very neighbourly thing to do, just taking the time out to go and see what other people had created. Whether that's just the Dillonses or something more general I am not aware.

Did I miss a traditional UK Christmas? No not really. It was strange and unusual to be away from home and family (that being typically the 'focus' of our Christmases when we do spend qualitivley more time together.)

Things that struck me as odd were like watching the televised parade on TV (was that at new years?) We just don't do street parades - we certainly don't have a static camera with people marching past endlessly. I was told at the time 'this is traditional' and speaking to Amanda about this Christmas, I sense that there are a great many things about the U.S Christmas that are harking back to some tradition or another (and I don't just mean the religious) but certain shows and movies that are repeated specifically at this time of year. (Quite by co-incidence I picked up a 3 disc set of the Wizard of Oz for a reasonable sum before Christmas and was surprised to learn in the special features that Oz is 'traditionally' played at Christmas...)

Is it? And this thing with the Charlie Brown Christmas Special - I think I've seen it, and mind, I don't pay attention to what is on the kids channels (or kids time slots) as much as I once used to so perhaps it does play regularly and I just miss it; that said, I don't recall CBCS getting a traditional Annual Airing either.

and I think it was a triple whammy for Amanda having Christmas away from home is hard, minus things one has grown up with and considers traditional, and plus the relative unease with which the year at UEA started and I can well understand her pining for something more familiar.

I hugged her lots but hugs only do so much.

I might add of course, that as Christmas day ended, when I was in the US), so the Tsunami in Aceh and Indonesia struck - which did rob Christmas of some of it's ..er...transcendency.

"and I think it was a triple whammy for Amanda having Christmas away from home is hard, minus things one has grown up with and considers traditional, and plus the relative unease with which the year at UEA started and I can well understand her pining for something more familiar."

And that about sums it up.

It is nice, however, to be back at university and working on essays without the jet lag. Some of my international friends are back and are finding it really tough to work while their body clock is completely off-kilter.

Back to work.