1997: Christmas Bells
From the archives: It turns out that I was blogging long before anyone had ever heard the term “blog.” Twenty years ago I was an exchange student in Estonia. While studying at the University of Tartu, I created an online travelogue to keep my family and friends apprised of my experiences. Both my life and the nation of Estonia have changed a lot the two decades since. This reprise is providing me with a glimpse at who I was back then and the excuse to learn more about more recent developments in my temporary home, even if some of the opinions that I expressed back then may make me a little bit uncomfortable today. It is interesting to see how people grow and change.
Previous entry: Christmas Time is Coming
December 23-26, 1997
Finally, after all of the preparations and waiting, Christmas has come and gone. It is sometimes hard to believe that it has already gone by. I think that something about being away from everything that has always made Christmas “Christmasy” has made it feel a little bit like a dream. It’s only upon sitting and reflecting that all that has happened in the past few days really starts to sink in.
I must admit that I was a little bit nervous about what this Christmas would be like. Being so far away and in a place so different from home I thought that I might have a miserable time. However, things have turned out better than I could have possibly dreamed of. I really felt like a part of my host family and the memories that I got this year will stick with me for the rest of my life.
To all of my family and friends “back home” please know that I missed you all. I hope that you had a wonderful holiday, but please don’t feel any sympathy for me. I had a great time in spite of it all. Merry Christmas!!
23 December 1997
Tuesday
After a month’s absence, bicycling has returned to my life. Last night I took the bike down to a shop to have them take a look at it and see what could be done about my perpetually flatting tire. The mechanic at the shop was very honest and did a straight forward repair replacing only the bad valve from the inner tube that Raivo and I patched a week or so ago. I went for an hour’s long ride to test everything out and it seems to be holding up just fine. If anything else goes wrong with it I know now where to take it. The service there was free, only the materials cost. That is incredible service. The best part is that I am no longer dependent on pubic transportation. A nice feeling of independence.
24 December 1997
Wednesday
Christmas Eve
The incredible power of the Lord. No matter where I am, there he is. A half a world away from my home, family and friends, yet still alive in the peace of God. I know that by all rights I should be missing home desperately right now, but truth be told, I don’t. Of course I miss home in some ways, but I have just had a different kind of Christmas Eve that I have ever felt before. Different from anything else I will ever feel again.
I have sacrificed a holiday at home with my family for the opportunity to spend it with a new family. I have temporarily given up the world I know and love to experience a new world. It has it’s difficulties, yes, but the rewards are inexplicable.
Besides, the true point of Christmas is not family, friends or presents. It is the birth of of our Lord, Jesus Christ. That is the same the world over. Let us never forget…
Raivo, Ene, Kairit and I celebrated Christmas dinner tonight. I got to try sünt and blood sausage for the first time. Good, but I can already hear my arteries screaming in pain. It is incredible to me how fatty and high in cholesterol most Estonian food is, yet they are some of the thinnest people I have ever seen. It just goes to show the benefit of an active lifestyle. Americans could learn a thing or two from that.
After dinner we talked for a while and then i left for midnight mass at the Catholic Church. A beautiful service with the Polish/Russian and Estonian language congregations worshiping together. There were so many churchgoers that the building was overflowing. Over half of the congregation went without seats, myself included.
It was also the first time that i saw Father Miguel (from Chile) give the mass. He worked mostly in Estonian but shifted to Latin for some of the more difficult liturgies. The homily was given in English with translation, so with the German friend that I met there were at least six languages running at one time. Living proof of the worldwide truth and power of God. Jesus is born today, our savior has come. God be praised. Merry Christmas.
25 December 1997
Thursday
Christmas Day
I had a most exciting Christmas. In the morning I went with Raivo and Ene to visit Raivo’s father’s grave. It was interesting. The grave site is located in a small town outside of Tartu. The quiet lifestyle of the country contrasting completely with the life that I live everyday in Tartu. It is a lifestyle that I grew up with and one that I sometimes miss excruciatingly. It is a lifestyle that I hope to be able to return to some day. There is nothing wrong with the city lifestyle, but there is an element missing all too often, one that people cannot do long without, peace. The life in cities is always lived at a running pace. Sometimes it is nice to sit back and look at the world with a less hurried viewpoint. Small towns let us do that easier than anywhere else.
After the grave visit we had a second Christmas dinner. It was much the same menu as yesterday, but the addition of Priit, Eike and Getter made the occasion completely different. I enjoy having Getter around, she is good entertainment and helps to liven up the house.
Santa Claus came after dinner. We opened presents and shared a nice evening in each other’s company. I got a nice tea set and many wonderful memories, the best, however, was giving the presents. It is strange as I have gotten older I look forward to Christmas presents in a different way. I still look forward to them as much as I ever did, but now I am not worried about what I get as much as I am looking forward to giving people things. The anticipation, the hoping that they like what I got, seeing the expressions on their faces. This is what I was truly looking forward to this Christmas and this is what I got. A good Christmas.
It is strange, in many ways I missed everything I have seen and felt about Christmas. All of the familiar rituals, customs and people were missing. But in a way it was one of the best Christmases I have ever had. The memories that I got will last the rest of my life and the family that I have come to adopt will be with me the rest of my life. Another country around the world in which I am at home.
After the festivities here I went with Kairit to Illegaard. It was a good night of conversation and really served to focus my mind set. I definitely needed a little bit of time to just sit and reflect on everything that has happened in the past week or two. We danced the night away and just had a great time. She is truly starting to feel like my sister. Something more and a little bit different than blood relative, I know, but I have a sister now. Strange. Serendipity.
26 December 1997
Friday
Today was Christmas recovery day. I slept most of the day.
