因为在神没有一件事是不可能的

I didn't expect this Christmas to be anything special. It often isn't anything special in China.

However, it turned out to be wonderful.

(Aside from having to work.)

After work I opened some gifts from home and friends. A couple great books from home that will keep me entertained and thinking for awhile. A great scarf from Zou Nan, too.

We had planned on going to a nice hotel for a nice meal with some friends. But then some other friends invited us to Jackie's (A really good western restaurant) for a big Christmas dinner.

I'm talking 17 people, loads of delicious nachos, salad, pounds of mashed potatoes, two turkeys, two sea salt baked bass, and multiple cakes.

We probably have a kilo of leftover turkey.

Turkey sandwiches for dinner tonight.

It was a wonderful Christmas and I regret forgetting my camera.

Yesterday (Dec 1st) was a day I'll never forget.

After unsuccessfully trying to buy a Christmas tree I had most pleasant taxi driver I've had in China to date.

After a nice conversation about work, China, America, and politics (which I had no idea I could talk about in Chinese, though it was baby talk) we arrived at my house. After I paid him he said, "圣诞快乐!" (sheng dan kuai le = Merry Christmas)

This is the first stranger in China to tell me merry Christmas. Everyone Stateside says "happy holidays," or "merry Christmas" but I've never heard it in China. Not even last year.

I was so happy.

I never used to get excited about Christmas. I never used to get into the whole Christmas thing. But something about being away - living in a country that doesn't celebrate it in the same way - makes it that much more special.

Maybe because out here it's hard to get caught up in the materialism of it all. The foreigners away from home aren't worried about buying gifts, they aren't lost in discounts and bargains, they just value Christmas for what it is.

There is nothing like Christmas at home, but I feel like it's going to be a great time despite my location.

It is the day after thanksgiving. It is also the day to start listening to Christmas music. So why don't you pep up your playlist with happiest most upbeat version of Winter Wonderland ever recorded?

Last Friday the other teachers and I went to a public middle school and played with a couple hundred students. Musical chairs and pass the parcel. Then we gave them loads of candy. It was all good fun. It's nice to give something back to the community without being forced to like when I was in school. Then this showed up in the news paper on Christmas eve. I look like a really sketchy Santa!
We're also in another paper, I'll try to get a copy of that somehow.

I don't know what it is with Chinese people. But they think if you are 23 and don't have a girlfriend there is something wrong. Every day for the last two weeks I've had total strangers ask me if I have a girlfriend. They are then totally blown away when I say no. They ask why, of course. When I tell them girls are too much trouble they offer to introduce me to some pretty girl. (Like I don't have enough trouble without them trying help.)

Today I was told by the headmaster of the public school we did a little volunteering at that they have many pretty teachers she could introduce me to. She was obviously referring to the girl sat next to me who was the English teacher at their school.

My response is always the same: wo bu yao!

Maybe it is time I stop being lazy and date someone though.

I get asked out nearly every week anyway.

(I will post about the volunteering later, hopefully when I get pictures. I was dressed up as Santa. I looked like a pikey alcoholic Santa… It was great!)