Douglas-fir Archives

It's a frosty December 25th here in Ludwigsburg. We didn't manage a white Christmas, but late on Christmas eve, a thick, icy fog rolled in. The tiny ice crystals in the fog clung to exposed surfaces, creating a delicate, paper thin layer of ice on everything outside. This gave the landscape a slightly steel-grey hue. Even some of the remaining tattered spider webs were coated with ice.





< View out my window, Christmas day. The student housing complex is very quiet around Christmastime. >

In Germany, Christmas lasts three days, from Christmas eve to the day after Christmas. Accordingly, almost all businesses, including grocery stores, are closed for this three day period. So on Saturday, I had a very busy day shopping for food. I did the equivalent of a "major shopping trip" in America. Since I have no car, I normally do quick, frequent shopping trips limited to what I can easily carry. This time, I used the "shuttle" method, managing it in three trips on the light rail. I'd get off the northbound train with a couple of heavy bags of groceries, hurry to my building and drop them off, and run back to the platform in time to catch the next southbound train back into Ludwigsburg. I had only five minutes between the two trains to drop off each load, and missing a train usually means a wait of 30 minutes for the next one.

What was I planning to do with all of these groceries? Well, I was planning to cook some "festive" meals, but before I could get very far with those ideas, I came down with a nasty cold. Since yesterday, I've been pretty well taking it easy, consuming tea, cough drops, and tissues. Classes don't start again for a couple of weeks, and I figure I'll get more festive and creative with my cuisine when I feel better.

Before I fell ill, however, I had some very nice Christmas celebrations: with the students in my house, with the English department at the college, and with Shannon and Crystal. At the celebration with the students in my house (which also included other German and foreign exchange students), we had a white elephant gift exchange, which was a lot of fun.



< Preparing for the English department's Christmas dinner. Among other things, six turkeys were cooked for the occasion! Students were invited to come early to help if they wanted. I only helped a very small amount, having come much later than most of the other students offering help. >



< Despite feeling ill, I managed to bundle myself up and get outside for a Christmas day portrait >


I'd like to wish everyone back home a very merry Christmas; I miss you lots!