Christmas Weekend – Days 103, 104, 105 – 12/23, 12/24, 12/25

The weekend’s festivities began with Lizzie arriving in Tetovo on Friday evening from Bitola.  We went to dinner at Arbi- a tasty Albanian restaurant in the center.  By being in the center we got to see that a Christmas Tree made just of lights had been put up in the city square. Lizzie and I both took pictures in front of it.  We headed back to my dorm to watch a movie and color the picture cards for English Club the next day at the American Corner.  We watched the movie, “Nothing like the Holidays” a Christmas movie neither of us had seen.  Its not one I will be adding to my holiday favorites, but it was fun to see one we had not seen before.  It was off to bed for us so we were ready for the American corner the next day.

Saturday started with Kid’s Club and English Club at the American Corner.  With the Kid’s Club Lizzie and I made Santa hats with them, the kids all looked SO GREAT!  We looked pretty good too :)  We also read a book called, “I Can See Christmas” and the kids colored the books.  For English Club we taught them some English words related to Christmas and then made stockings.  To finish our time together we played Christmas BINGO.  The kids had a good time and so did Lizzie and I.  I was also able to present Michael Forsberg's book The Great Plains to the American Corner Tetovo. 

Lizzie and I with our hats!!

Kid's Club

English Club

Presentation to ACT of The Great Plains by Michael Forsberg

From the corner Lizzie and I headed out to pick up the food items for our Christmas Eve meal, for Christmas Breakfast and Christmas Dinner.  The market was our first stop… we bought: lettuce, spinach, onions, potatoes, lemons, broccoli, carrots, oranges, plums, and zucchini.  We bought enough items that the guy gave us two kiwi and then put an extra pepper into our bag with a smile.  We also got to stop at the cheese store in the market.  We tasted several of the types in hopes of finding something like mozzarella for the caprese bake, creamy cheese for our spinach dip, and a grate-able cheese for our quiches. We found the creamy and the grate-able kind, but tasted some wonderful other kinds too!  Although Cassidy does not eat meat, Lizzie and I still wanted some for our meal so we wet to Mishtore Beni- the butcher.  They were very helpful and so kind.  The butcher even gave us labeled ink pins and a calendar.  The calendar even has pictures of meat for each month!!  Very unique, but very funny and memorable!!  There were other items that we needed to pick up from the grocery store. Vero was closest and with all of the items we had that was the best choice.  We again found all of the items we needed and it was straight to a taxi, walking was out of the question with all of the things we had!

Christmas eve meal:  steak with a tasty reduction sauce, caprese bake, baked onions with bacon, apples, and pears!  I took pictures of course!!!

Caprese Bake

Steak with reduction sauce

Onion bake with apples, pears and bacon 

Following dinner we watched two Christmas classics:  Love Actually and National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.  Lizzie hadn’t seen these “Birdsall Christmas Classics” so it was fun to share with her!

Christmas morning, I woke up to start making our individual quiches.  Cassidy arrived from Skopje.  Over night Santa was able to visit us all the way in Macedonia.  We opened some very small gifts to each other.. including some kinder eggs.  I figured what is Christmas without some toys.  At home my family gives each other little toy items, so this was a good memory to share with Cassidy and Lizzie.  Cassidy brought us some handmade cinnamon soap and a snowman cookie from the International Woman’s Bizzare.  Our breakfast of quiche and fruit turned out VERY yummy!!!

Christmas morning!!!

Santa made it all the way to see us in Macedonia :)

Lizzie and her gifts

Cassidy opening her gifts

OUR TOYS!!!!

Breakfast :)

The afternoon was spent talking, sharing memories and watching “The Santa Clause”.   I would be lying if I said the mood was all joyous.  It was hard for each of us at varying degrees to be away from our loved ones and friends, as well as the traditions that we each have during the holiday season.  I know I will treasure the memory that I will take from this Christmas, but living in the moment of it was a bit hard.

Dinner was an event that should be shared!  We created quite the spread:  baked squash, curry zucchini, potato pancakes, spinach meatballs, spinach dip, and raspberry/lemon cake!  Here is the table:

DINNER

Our decorations were minimal, but we did have the Holmes Hedgehog, inflatable Santa, and our little Christmas tree. 

Merry Christmas to all!

Lesson: Christmas is to remember the birth of Jesus, but when you aren’t with the people you love, and surrounded with the traditions, it just feels different.  Happy Birthday Baby Jesus!