Markets, Music, Memories

The Christmas aura is all around.

In fact it has been since November 1st for me, since that is when I first began wetting my audial appetite with Christmas songs! But the sounds of Christmas are only a fragment of the season for me.

The smell of cinnamon and taste of hot chocolate weave throughout the sights of first frosts and falling leaves (no snow here unfortunately); and wrapping it all together is the warm fuzziness of blankets, scarves, hats and mittens. Christmas has a way of relating to all our senses, even when we are oblivious to their pervasiveness.

Although not all of Europe has the beautiful blissful white blanket that we Canadians call snow, they still really love their Christmas!

It all started with the grand experience of watching Sinterklaas come sailing into Amsterdam along the canal, all the way from Spain! This sight was sweetened, quite literally, by the heaping handfuls of papernoten that suddenly made their appearance in every hand, lap and hood along the entire route of the parade throughout Amsterdam!

From then on the last couple of weeks have been a blur of Christmas markets. From Brussels to Germany, every market full of hot drinks, greenery, festive signs (that I usually don't understand), traditional treats, and the laughter of friends has led me to decide that every town should have one.

Despite being caught in the rain numerous times, and having to huddle together to stay warm, my time in Brussels was absolutely amazing. The new and brilliant lights on every street were terrific, but it was the company that made it truly memorable. You see, a year and a half ago I spent two weeks with a number of phenomenal individuals in South Africa. Unfortunately the majority of those individuals all live in Europe, which is a long way to go for a quick visit. So when nine of us managed to congregate in the beautiful, festive city of Brussels it was like a flashback in time; just with more lights and civilization in general.

However Middelburg, my town here in Holland, was not to be so quickly outdone!

Although they may not have the markets of the bigger cities, Middelburg opened up its very own ice rink in the city square just this past week! And who filled that whole rink in their bright orange rental skates and Canada mittens? Why, me and practically my entire house of course!

After making it a few more days with just the regular doses of Christmas music to carry me through, we had a full house Sinterklaas dinner complete with homemade boterkoek and papernoten. How much more Dutch could we get? To be fair, this dinner was tinged with the thinnest of bittersweet layers as it was the last dinner that our whole house would be at home together... but not even this sad reality could ruin the joy of sitting down to a delicious meal that everyone had worked hard to prepare!

Shortly after this, I was off again for yet another day of markets! Four in one day, to be exact! Germany's markets were only to be outdone by their stunningly impressive cathedrals!

Oh, and their meat on a stick.

It's to die for.

As experiments finish up, reports start to be written, and final presentations tug always at the back of the mind, it is the expectation and anticipation of Christmas that keeps me uplifted. All that the season brings, and has brought already. All the hilarious songs, the excuse to sing together, the extra lights to illuminate the darkest nights, the tantalizing smells that seem to follow you around, and the extra twinkle in everyone's eye... it all makes it near impossible to ignore the fact that time is whizzing on its way towards yet another wonderful, merry Christmas.

Christmas this year marks the end of my time here in Holland, as I fly back to Canada on Christmas Adam (that's December 23rd for all of those of you unacquainted with Adam, Eve's husband). However it also marks a reuniting with my family and friends back in North America. I am not sad that my time here has almost run its course, nor do I feel ready to leave. I am quite content with all that I have been blessed with so far!

Yet it is not finished either! As much fun as report writing may sound, I also look forward most impatiently for next weekend in London! I fully intend to bask in yet more Christmas spirit and to take advantage of every moment I am given in this beautiful, historic continent.

But until then, I remain here in Middelburg. Playing my Christmas music no matter how often my housemates complain, and taking each day as it comes, because each one is a blessing and a gift.

I'll see you soon Canada.

Sooner than you think

LOL - Lots of Love

Briar