Lissette Lorenz

I flew over to China to visit the Taigu fellows for the holidays. Outside in the cold, grey town, people hustled and bustled like any other time of year. Aside from a cut-out of Santa’s head on a shop window or two, the Taigu streets didn’t seem to buzz with the Christmas spirit the way it might back in the States. To most Chinese here, Christmas is just another day. But inside the Foreign Expert Houses where the fellows are warmly nestled, things were gearing up for the holidays. Small plastic Christmas trees, gold and green garland, and handmade paper snowflakes decked the halls. We went out for duck hot pot on Christmas Eve and had homemade pancakes, hash browns, and apple crisp on Christmas Day. We exchanged small gifts, watched “Love Actually” and spent the holiday season full of cheer. I missed my family of course; this was my first Christmas away from home. But I Skype called my family on their Christmas morning and saw them gathered by the tree, opening presents, and I told them I loved them, and that I’d be home for Christmas, next year. This year’s was still spent well, among caring and jovial friends, in a small rural town in China.

Happy holidays!