It's that time of year, and it snuck up on all of us, mainly because we're teaching just three days before Christmas. And anther main reason... there is not a bit of bad weather in sight. For the last 23 years I've either been covered in rain or snow for the months surrounding Christmas. This time around, there is nothing but sunshine in our future, and beach. I'm not complaining, but it is quite strange being in the sun for Christmas. Vilde and I have been longing to see snow, so we bought a jigsaw puzzle that has a cabin in about six feet of snow. And after seeing friends post pictures of snow where they are, it's making me more confused.
Today is our last day of classes before the vacation and four days in Sihanoukville, down on the coast. We just had a Christmas party with the whole CWF staff and all the volunteers. We all decided to try out a form of Secret Santa, but we came to the conclusion to do a Yankee swap (white elephant). It could not have gone better. I've done them in the past with family with up to 20 people, but this time we had 38 or 39 people, and just about half of those where Khmer. For those who don't know the process of the game, you start with every person bringing one wrapped present, and everyone draws a number. So for us there were 39 people and 39 presents with everyone having one number. The person with number one chooses one gift and opens it, and shows it to the group. Then number two picks their present and opens it and shows the group. If number two decides they do not like their present they can steal the first one. Then number three goes and they have the option to keep theirs or steal, and so on and so forth. Then you go through all the numbers and then it goes back to number one. Since they did not have the option to steal a present, they can take a pick from every opened gift. It's a lot of fun with only 20 people, so having that many people was absolutely hilarious. Everyone in the group was hollering with laughter the whole time. There were every kind of gift you could imagine, trinkets, a single beer, stuffed animals, candy, and of course, the one bottle of whiskey that everyone wanted. It wouldn't be a proper yankee swap without the alcohol that everyone wants. And of course our receptionist Lakhina had number one and ended up with the whiskey.
Any sort of notion or fleeting idea that I missed being home for Christmas floated away this afternoon. Everyone here acts as if you are a part of their family. I know it sounds corny as hell, but you could not tell that we only met the staff of CWF only four weeks ago. The day we leave will truly suck. But for right now, it couldn't be better.
As for Christmas day, I'll be on the beach. And yes, I know I'll catch some ill words from those in the snow, but I wouldn't totally mind being in the snow. Come Sunday, I probably won't care so much about snow. Well that's enough rambling about not being home for Christmas time. For now I have to finish up two more lessons, then I'll be on my vacation. But the main part of this post was about being part of this group. That's what is most enjoyable and surprising right now. Cheesy I know, but very true.
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