After the party, I headed home for a short rest and found Santa in the apartment lobby handing out small presents to all residents. He was a lot skinner and a lot more Asian than I ever remember him being. Next, I was off to church at Congregation of the Good Shepherd. Due to traffic, it took me almost two hours by cab and I missed my scripture reading. At least I was there for Christmas communion and the candle lighting ceremony in which I also had a part. Traditional Christmas snacks of mince pies and hot cider were served after the service.
On to Wudakou, I met up with several teachers and some of our students to celebrate Christmas together over an Indian meal. Indian food is quickly becoming one of my favorites; it actually reminds me much of cajun food as it is all very spicy. During dinner, the other teachers and I commented to each other how strange it was that it actually felt like Christmas. We would never have expected that in China especially being so far away from family and friends. The streets were very festive with street vendors selling everything from santa hats, cotton candy, devil horns(?), warm socks and gloves, as well as traditional Beijing street foods. From news reports I read today, all of Beijing's churches were filled to the brim lastnight, some even requiring traffic control.
EF Staff/Student Christmas Dinner
Today started much like any normal off day. I had lunch at a local dim sum restaurant and later went to have Christmas dinner with Pastor Dan Sanidfer-Stech and his family from my church, COGS. We had a delicious meal of shrimp stir fry noodles cooked up by their ayi and a dessert of Christmas cookies made by their three girls. The girls were quite busy playing with their Santa toys and we ended the evening gazing at the few stars in the sky through the new telescopes that Santa Claus brought.
Christmas with the Sandifer-Stech Family
I will go back to work tomorrow but not before a viewing of A Christmas Story and a cup of hot cocoa. To quote the final line of that movie:
"All is right with the world."
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