January 18, 2008
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A Post-Christmas Wrap-Up
Exam season is finally over, and on Wednesday morning at 6.00 am I was able to send all the collated exam results to the Ministry of Higher Education (I only slept two hours that night). What a relief!!
Now, I have suddenly come to the realisation that Christmas is gone.
My flat actually looked like this until last night. 
I worked quite hard at trying to create a bit of Christmas atmosphere here in the middle of the desert this year.
And I think I succeeded to some extent.
Even if most of Christmas Eve was spent at the college, I managed to squeeze in a quick pool break in the afternoon.
In the evening, there was a Christmas Eve party at one of the hotels, which most people enjoyed.
Especially Seth and Lorenzo.
It was a very eclectic kind of Christmas Eve party, as is often the case here in the Gulf. We had a Filipino band singing Come All Ye Faithful, dressed in Father Christmas hats at one point. Soon, people were dancing to hits from the 70s. There was a moment when I felt it was almost too much of a mix for me. I was on the mobile to some relatives in Sweden and they decided to sing a Swedish Christmas carol to me over the phone, while, at the same time, the Filipino band had been replaced by a girl doing belly dancing. I really felt a bit dislocated with Swedish Christmas music in one ear and Arabic seductive music in the other.
Even though some of my friends did very well on the dance floor...
...it was really Seth and Lorenzo who stole the show that night.
We had Christmas Day off, and after church in Muscat, I went to the Christmas Day lunch my church arranges every year. Lots of food, including turkey.
Late on Christmas Day, I also squeezed in a quick Christmas Party at my flat.
Wine and minced pies.
And a (feeble) attempt at silly games.
Early on Boxing Day, I was back at college again, working away on exam admin.
On Boxing Day, I also finished my work at unpacking the last of my 96 boxes with all my worldly belongings shipped from the UK - just in time for when my Swedish friends Sten and Irene arrived from Sweden (the next day!). But that's a different story.Anyway, that's me wrapping up the Christmas season.
Comments (5)
This is very interesting. I try to imagine myself in this location and doing the things you talk about. You have in interesting life. We were the same old thing, Christmas morning opening gifts, having a big dinner with 7 people at the round table. However, I love every minute of it. Best wishes to you.
Why not leave the christmas decoration all year? They are nice, and people should keep the christmas spirit for longer time too.
It was really boxing day for you. I hope you got everything and nothing was lost in the shipping.
You did a very good job of making your place look and feel like a real Christmas. The color red with candles always sets the ambiance. Here in Southern California we have warm days with sunshine with just a touch of snow in the distance mountains. This year was very different my son took me up the mountain early Christmas day it was sunny, cold and crisp. We took a Christmas picnic. He enjoyed snowboarding and I enjoyed the scenery. So Christmas is what you make it: Good food, friends and family and a happy spirit.Christmas is in the spirit not in the place. You seem to be happier in your desert than in London town.
I always enjoy reading your post. Nice of you to continue to share your photos. What a marvelous adventure living and working in an exotic place.
Happy New Year!
Best wishes,
Karolyn
A wonderful "trip" you've given us! I love your Swedish furniture! I remember when you got it! Your friends look as tho they are so much fun! That is a very big plus wherever you are. You are so much happier now and it could not happen to a more deserving person!! I hope someday that our world stops being at war with other countries and other cultures so that we can share and love one another. People like you make that seem possible.
Happy weekend, my friend!
You really have been busy. At one time I might have kept up with you but I am so much slower now. It's a good thing, fingers doing the walking from Ohio to the Arab world in the blink of an eye.
Your Christmas looks very nice. Your flat seems to have fit everyone in and it's nicely and peacefully Christmas. Now the New Year begins. I hope yours is the best in all ways.
Becca
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