Christmas and other greetings

Well, hard to believe Christmas is on Monday! I know I haven't posted much lately but wanted to wish everyone a Merry Christmas. I didn't have time to email everyone (I'm sorry), but hope that you check my blog sometime through the weekend between festivities.

Christmas traditions are different here and while it will be interesting to see what happens, I have to be honest it's been a source of confusion, miscommunication, and frustration between me and Libor. Who would have thought such a holiday would cause so much fuss? But then again, it's probably understandable because we assume so much about our own version of Christmas that we don't realize that there are other versions of Christmas around the world. Perfect example - I asked Libor how long we would be in Breclav, and he said, Christmas. So, of course, I'm thinking, okay, until Tuesday, maybe Wednesday, then come back to Brno, hang out, have some quiet time on our own before the craziness of 2007... well... today, the day we were supposed to go to Breclav, I find out that Christmas in the Czech Republic technically is a holiday that lasts until January 1st. One week?? I wasn't prepared, hadn't had time to send out emails, etc etc... Craziness happens (those of you who know me can fill in the blanks here), and we end up agreeing that I would stay in Brno until tomorrow morning while he went ahead to Breclav because he'd already made plans with friends there.

I do enjoy learning all the time about the culture that Libor grew up in, the culture in which I live in now, but I also have to admit sometimes I am tired of learning. I am tired of being "in the wrong." I guess you can say I'm a little homesick. :-( I think it's normal. The weird thing is (sorry Mom and Dad) while I miss people and certain things in the US, I still have no desire to move back to the US. As long as I am with Libor, my home will be where he is... even though I get frustrated sometimes. I know when I finally learn how to really have a "life" here, it will be less frustrating - knowing what I can do and what I can get in order to do what I want. I really took things for granted - being able to think of, for example... a craft idea, and then knowing which stores to go to for getting the supplies to do the project. Libor is not a craft person so he has no idea where I could go, no one else knows either, so I have two options. 1) I could search and search until I find (or not) what I'm looking for; or 2) give up and think of something else. Sometimes I feel like I'm doing option number 2 more often because it's the easiest thing to do, and I hate feeling frustrated. At the same time, giving up and thinking of something else can be frustrating too. What a catch-22... It's what prevents me from really feeling "at home" because things I can think of to do that will make me feel better when I'm down, or when I feel homesick, I can't do or is really hard to do.

I had to get all of that off my chest. I know I try to keep this blog as upbeat as possible because goodness knows I don't need my family getting concerned about me being here. I wouldn't miss this experience for the world. I just can't wait for the time when I can move past this culture shock. Libor says its that Aries streak, wanting everything now. Yea. I can't help it, it's who I am. I'm really trying though.

Anyway, Happy Holidays everyone, be safe. Travel safe and be merry.