High On A Hill Stood A Lonely Goatherd

Counting Down to Christmas…

I kid you not, November has been THE. LONGEST. MONTH. EVERRRRRR.

But now it’s almost over and so the countdown is on. In less than 30 days I will be at home for Christmas. Ich freue mich drauf. This is my favourite time of year and it’s strange not spending it with the people I’m closest to. Things I’m looking forward to include: seeing my family, seeing my friends, Christmas festivities, being able to dunk my biscuits in my tea without people looking at me as if I’m growing an extra head, bacon sandwiches, speaking English ALL the time, lay-ins, going to the pub, having a car back, driving on the left side of the road....

You get the picture. Basically I’m looking forward to having my old routine back.  It’s not that I’m desperate to leave Germany or anything. In fact, quite the opposite. I hope that you’ve got an idea from my previous blogs just how much I’m loving it. I’m having the time of my life, but I feel like I’m climbing up a steep hill, with  the top of the hill (being symbolic of my return home over the holidays) just about coming into view. Occasionally I like to pause for breath and survey the beautiful view that surrounds the hill, reflect on how fun it has been trying to climb the hill so far, and actually just how far I’ve come since I started climbing the hill. But nevertheless I’m looking forward to reaching the top, and the top is still 3 weeks away.

The hills are alive...with the sound of people speaking German all the time. 

It’s also a strange and unfamiliar phenomenon that the school term ends so close to Christmas. Obviously it was similar when I was at school, but I was at home then, so I guess I didn’t notice as much and for the past two years I have accustomed myself to a university term that finishes in early December, giving me enough time to enjoy the delights of Christmas shopping in London once I get home. (That was sarcastic - Christmas shopping in London is many things; ‘delightful’ not being one of them!)  So I know that 600 miles away, the little bubble that I have made home for the past two years, will now gradually be winding down, getting ready for the holidays. Christmas-dinner-in-a-sandwich subs will be available from the Bread Oven, Curiositea will be selling cinnamon lattes and my housemates will probably already have chosen their Secret Santa gifts.

But not wanting to want to countdown to Christmas…

So even though something in my brain is beginning to switch off, not used to the fact that my early mornings must continue for a whole two weeks longer than normal, I don’t want to waste the next few weeks wishing my time in Germany away. By the time I come back after the holidays, I will be exactly half way through my time here. Was für einen furchterregenden Gedanke! I highly doubt I will ever get an opportunity as amazing as this one ever again, so I need to make sure I get my arse into gear, and make the most of every opportunity that comes my way. I’ve mainly got this thing down; I just need a reminder every now and again!

 “Don’t count the days. Make the days count.” – Muhammed Ali

Never was a wiser word spoken.

 I guess the point I'm trying to make is that looking forward to going home is not a negative reflection on anyone or anything German-related in any way, shape or form. I love it so much here, but I also love home. And I haven't been home in a really.long.time. By the time I walk through the arrivals gate it will have been four months, almost exactly to the day, since I was last on English soil. So I'm looking forward to-recharging the batteries, so-to-speak, so that I can enjoy my remaining months here in style. 

So in respect of this, I am determined to make the most of the next 3 and a bit weeks, as who knows when I’ll next get the opportunity to spend the festive season in the big D.land. I've got quite a few festive activities planned over the next few days, so I shall post again very soon with details of all these adventures. 

Until next time.