On Trots and Traditions

Holidays.  Got to love them.  Generally they’re filled with traditions, family, and of course food.  Holidays for me have been a little different for the last few years, though.  While there are traditions mixed in here and there, for the most part the only constant in holidays for the last few years has been, well, me.  Let’s take a look at Christmases/Christmas Vacations since 2004, shall we?

2004 – Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

2005 – Bellevue, WA, USA
2006 – Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

2007 – Yakima, WA, USA

2008 – Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

2009 – Hillsboro, OR, USA

2010 – Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

2011 – Orlando, FL, USA

2012 – Melbourne, Australia

Even in the places that were repeated, it was in a different house or hotel.  And then there are Thanksgivings, which were a bit more consistent for a while there:

2005 – Bloomington, IL, USA

2006 – Peoria, IL, USA

2007 – Parkersburg, WV, USA

2008 – Parkersburg, WV, USA

2009 – Hillsboro, OR, USA

2010 – Hillsboro, OR, USA

2011 – Bellevue, WA, USA

2012 – Chiang Mai, Thailand

After the 2008 Turkey Trot

This is the life of a TCK.  Once you leave your host country, your live is generally a whirlwind of adjustment, forging new trails and creating new traditions.  If you’re someone like me, though, those new traditions consist of no traditions, at least not in the traditional sense of the word.  My traditions involve people, games, phone calls, and a hint of loneliness here and there.

Last night in Chengdu, I played spoons with some new Chinese friends, teaching them the ropes of the game and repeating phrases with them as we worked on pronunciation and meaning.  It was fantastic.  This morning I walked a Turkey Trot and enjoyed the time with some new friends.  That was also fantastic.  But now, as I reflect on the events of the day, my mind is back at a different time on a different continent.  My fellow TCK friends (well, we are more like family) from high school and I used to get together for Thanksgiving.  We would play games (usually extreme spoons which involved taking the spoons outside and putting them on something frozen) and laugh until our sides hurt, all the while enjoying a delicious cup of chai that was like a little taste of home for us on a far from home continent.  And then, inevitably, they would drag me to the Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving morning.  I would protest, but secretly I loved the time with friends.

How did my traditions follow me, but the people did not?  That’s okay…that’s why God created Facebook :)

Location: Chengdu, China

Local Time (CST -- GMT+8): 10:43 a.m. (11/17/2012)

Auburn Time (PST -- GMT-7): 6:43 p.m. (11/16/2012)

On the BBC, Brains, and Opera

It was a truly wonderful Saturday, filled with relaxation, good food, and great entertainment.  Our apartment on the 15th floor has gotten chillier in the last few weeks, so my roommate and I made the most of our coldness and watched TV for a good part of the day today.  It wasn't just any TV though, it was a BBC miniseries.  Sooooo good.  We had to put a pause in our viewing, though, to head out with a group from school for hot pot and Sichuan Opera.  I've had hot pot before, so that wasn't entirely a new experience (although I ate pig's throat tonight, which was a definitely first), but the opera was definitely new and exciting.  It wasn't so much an opera (or at least what I picture when I hear the word opera) as a variety show, but it was very well done and entertaining.

Those bits and pieces alone would have made for a great day, but it was topped off by a marvelous conversation with some of the ladies from a small group that I was a part of back in Washington.  Hearing them laugh and seeing them all together was such an incredible blessing.  I am so thankful for a family that spreads all the way around the world!

Location: Chengdu, China

Local Time (CST -- GMT+8): 1:39 a.m. (11/11/2012)

Auburn Time (PST -- GMT-7): 9:39 a.m. (11/10/2012)

Picture

The other day, I mentioned my house-help from Rwanda and the picture of the two of us.  My dad still has it on his desk in Ethiopia, and so I wanted to share it with you here.  Great memories of years gone by...

Location: Chengdu, China

Local Time (CST -- GMT+8): 10:06 a.m. (11/8/2012)

Auburn Time (PST -- GMT-7): 6:06 p.m. (11/7/2012)

Impending Insanity and Virtuosos, all in one day...

It's funny the things that can drive a person crazy, whether rational or irrational.  I always feel a bit better when I know that I'm not alone in my impending insanity, though.  Today, I sat in Starbucks for a good chunk of time while my roommate picked up a few things down the street at Ikea.  It's beginning to feel a bit more like winter in Chengdu and the wind definitely had a bite to it today, so every time someone went outside and the door stayed open behind them, my warm reading environment was harshly disrupted.  A few of us sitting near-ish to the door seemed to quickly develop a bit of a rotation pulling it shut again so we wouldn't freeze.  It was nice to know I wasn't the only one developing a nervous twitch whenever someone came in or went out and I wasn't quite sure if the door was going to swing shut or stay open.  It took me back to last winter in Auburn, grading or writing papers in Starbucks and catching the uncomfortable gusts of wind each time someone walked in or pulled up to the drive-through window.  It amazes me that something as silly as wind combined with coffee can hold such a memory.

On a totally unrelated note, I bought myself a handmade Chinese violin today.  The entire set (bow, violin, case, extra strings, shoulder rest and rosin) cost less combined than my case int eh States had, and I honestly feel a bit guilty about how little I paid.  Silley, I know.  I'm excited to plan, again, though.  Tonight, I spent more than an hour playing some of my old favorites and sight-reading through a few new ones.  There is a part of my that will always be a would-be violinist.  No use trying to suppress it anymore.

Location: Chengdu, China

Local Time (CST -- GMT+8): 8:48 p.m. (11/3/2012)

Auburn Time (PST -- GMT-7): 5:48 a.m. (11/3/2012)

Oh the question box...

I started the 5th grade question/comment/suggestion/whatever box this week.  Here are a few of the highlights thus far:
 - Do you have a car?
 - Can we get a class pet?
 - Can we have fun tomorrow?
 - Can we get 20 extra minutes of math?
 - Do you have a boyfriend?
 - How many languages do you speak?
 - I know it's not polite, but how old are you?
 - How tall are you?
 - When did you get your first kiss?
 - Why are zebra's black and white instead of purple and blue?
 - Why don't you marry?

Oh man, this could be an interesting year of questions...

Location: Chengdu, China

Local Time (CST -- GMT+8): 3:51 p.m. (11/2/2012)

Auburn Time (PST -- GMT-7): 12:51 a.m. (11/2/2012)