I'm still in time!!!

The Christmas Edition
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Yes, it's not quite Christmas Eve here in the Western part of Canada, but I know for those of you back home in NZ it is only a mere 3 hours away.

At the moment I'm in Vancouver sitting in my brother Jono's bedroom (as the ethnic addition to the "Ryan clan") feeling decidedly un-Christmassy...

1) It is cold here. No beach or barbie for me this Christmas! Annoyingly enough it's not quite cold enough for a White Christmas....booo!

2) It feels a little strange to not be involved in the commercially-driven-buying-presents-mad-rush as being so far away from friends and
family there aren't many people to be buying for!

3) I just finished exams a week ago so it feels a little strange that Christmas has come up so soon! And I feel so cheated that I only get a 2 week break (unlike the 4 months I'm used to!) as I'm back to school on Jan 5th

So Christmas Canadian style is still a strange concept for me, but I've partaken in some interesting festivities so far:

1) Egg nog - I'm not entirely sure what the nog is, but I the drink tastes something like a mix of egg and milk - kinda like a hot tangy custard like drink. Steamed from a cafe = good. Out of a carton = not so good.

2) Christmas deco - My apartment took on a festive feel in our last week of exams - complete with a fresh beautiful smelling LIVE pine tree decorated with pink wool, ninja stars, mistletoe picked/borrowed from peoples' gardens, popcorn strings and any other random colourful things we could find. We also had mistletoe hanging from a doorway (but couldn't find any nice guys, so made it a hugging mistletoe), and a wreath hanging on our front door.

3) Christmas lights are also a huge thing here. Some people's houses I'm sure are so bright that they can be soon from the moon, and I'd hate to imagine how big their electricity bills are! The newspaper has put out a list of houses that have the best displays - not just lights, but santas, inflatable snowmen, raindeer....you can just imagine!

So it's still going to be a great Xmas for me and it's great to be surrounded by my adopted Ryan family members, as us orphans have a Kiwi Christmas away from home. We're planning to celebrate both Christmases as consolation (and I'm looking forward to celebrating both New Year's dates, and both Birthdays coming up!).

Lastly I'm glad to inform you that Jenny and I have resumed our "World Culinary Tour" and are partaking in some fantastic cafe/bar/restaurant dining experiences in the wonderful city of Vancouver. We've found one of the best Vegetarian restaurants in the world, finally found somewhere in canada that serves a decent latte, frequented one of the best night music spots and drunk red wine out of jam jars and mini carafes, had corn chowder at the Art Gallery, had THE cheapest lunch - a $1.87
felafel donair kebab on Commercial Drive (Cuba St similarity), and tonight we helped cook serve and eat spag bog at a downtown Eastside community centre.

WOOHA

We'll also be heading up the mountain to Whistler, across to Vernon for some snow and skiing before heading back across to my island and cruising round Victoria (my hometown), Tofino (up island), celebrating 2004, my 22nd year and then it's back to school for another exciting semester.

Crazy to think it's been 4 days short of 4 months that I've been here in Canada. It's been a simply amazing time. My list of highlights and NY's resolutions will be coming out to you in January along with photos.

So, till then, i'll leave you with some magical wise words from my close friends:

"What you see...What you hear...can be an illusion. follow your heart, for only that will lead to the truth."
:: Siegfried and Roy (of the tiger-mauling fame)

Please have yourselves a safe and merry little Christmas and a wonderful New Years where ever you may be.

I miss all of you and I wish I could give you all a huge hug.

Take care and God Bless

Love Teresa