For Auld Lang Syne

2017 has given me much to celebrate; I moved to the UK to be with the love of my life, I got married, I celebrated my first Diwali, Karva Chauth, and Bon Fire Night, its been a year of firsts.

Its been a year of making memories and making plans for the future.

It hasn't all gone smoothly, but I have a year of amazing memories and even the struggles don't seem as bad now as I reflect on the ups and downs this year has brought. I packed up my entire flat with the help of one of my besties and my mum in 3 days ( the 3 most exciting and stressful days of my life).  A horrible holiday turned into a lovely one, I made new friends, saw old friends get married, visited a new country, and made plans for the future.  I've had bouts of homesickness, moments of anxiety, and times when I didn't understand the culture around me, but every moment has made me a stronger person.

I don't know what 2018 will bring, hopefully a job, a home of our own, and maybe an adventure or two. Thank you 2017 for all you have given me, and 2018 I look forward to what you have in store...

Christmas Spirit...

As Christmas looms closer I can't help but feel a bit more homesick as the day approaches.  The house is filled with holiday smells, and yet they aren't the ones I am accustomed to.  Fruit cakes, lemon drizzle, chocolate bark, while all of it sounds lovely, none of it shouts "Its Christmas" to me.
Grandma's homemade fudge, divinity, peanut brittle, Christmas cookies, these are the holiday smells I've grown up with. 
Holidays are steeped in tradition and as a foreigner in a foreign land I am finding the transition difficult. My husband bless him has been a rock and even my very own Christmas elf trying his hardest to bring back my holiday spirit. We've gone to Winter Wonderland, Oxford Circus and Regent Street for Christmas lights, went to see White Christmas on the big screen. It has all been amazing.  And I have to admit that at times my holiday spirit is quite high, but then it seems to suddenly drop to almost nothing and I find myself thinking about Christmas traditions back home and I feel the tears start to well up in my eyes.
Its not that my new family doesn't want me to keep my traditions, I have tried to bring some of my traditions here, I made Christmas cookies for my mother in law's Christmas hampers to give out to family, but I didn't find the joy I usually feel as I was left to make them by myself.  Christmas cookies were always a family affair with everyone decorating them in their own fashion. My brother the artist made elaborate decorations that were almost too pretty to eat, while I was more of a see how many sprinkles I can fit on one cookie sort of decorator.
I know that one day I'll wake up and I won't feel quite so out of place, but the holidays are hard.  This year I will hopefully make new traditions to blend with old, and next year I won't feel the sting of homesickness quite so much.

Dear Santa

Dear Santa,

How are you and Mrs. Claus? How are the elves? I have been very good this year, or at least I think I have been good, I mean I haven't committed any criminal offences that I am aware of so thats good right?  I still go the gym though not quite as often as I should, and I try to be kind to everyone.  This year for Christmas I would only like one thing, can you help me fit in here in England, I'm still finding it difficult. I figure if I fit in then it will be easier to find a job, so maybe a hat or a British accent would help. Thank you in advance and I hope you have a safe journey.

Merry Christmas,

Carli

P.S. I'll leave you cookies and a coke just like I always do!   

Seven Years Between

In December 2010 I experienced my first Christmas in London, my boyfriend (now husband!) took me to Winter Wonderland for the first time.  What a wonderful day it was, and my first time at a Christmas Market, German hotdogs, chocolate covered everything, and that wonderful feeling of Christmas.

Fast forward seven years later and and we revisit that London icon of Christmas.  Its gotten bigger, the lights have gotten brighter, but the feeling is still the same.  We ate German hotdogs again, I traded in the chocolate covered grapes for chocolate covered pineapple and opted for a candy apple to bring home for later.

 2010 Winter Wonderland was quite small in comparison to the size it is now, we spent 3 hours and I think just about saw all of it.  There were more rides than I'd seen before and lots more food and trinket stalls. The crowds were larger, but it didn't matter. Walking hand in hand in it felt like it was just the two of us. We played in the artificial snow, drank mulled wine (well Mr. V had hot chocolate) and even danced when a favourite song came on.  All in all it was a magical evening.

2017

2010