This past weekend, the ETAs came to Alex to celebrate Christmas. For the first time all month, I felt like it was actually the holiday season the week before Christmas. It hit me when I was sitting (I mean standing squished against countless, smelly women and gossiping high schooelrs) on the tram, listening to Christmas music. A huge smile spread across myself and I remained unusually jolly as I ran errands to prepare for our guests and completed my elf duties.
Everyone arrived on Thursday, and we took them to our favorite Egyptian food restaurant and our new club/bar/lounge. Some of our Egyptian friends met up with us, too, and it was great to introduce everyone to each other. In some ways it seems that Grace and I live two different lives; one with our American friends which is similar to life at home and then one with our Egyptian friends in which we attempt to be a part of this culture. It was nice to learn that the two worlds can coincide, not collide.
Friday, Christmas Eve, we all lounged around before heading to church that evening for a Lessons and Carols service. I did my best to fight back the tears and I managed to leave the church without mascara running down my cheeks. It would have been better to be at home with my family, but given the distance I could not have asked for a better group of people to share Christmas with. We have all become so close these past four months and it is always a joy to be with them. Oh gosh, I guess I am still sentimental even though it is a few days after Christmas.
Anyways, after church we partook in a popular American Jewish Christmas Eve tradition: we went for Chinese food for dinner! Before heading to bed in anticipation (and hope since we weren’t sure Egypt would be on his Nice List) for Santa’s arrival, we enjoyed Grace’s homemade hot chocolate, took turns reciting “Twas the Night Before Christmas,” and did our Secret Santa Gift Exchange.
Saturday morning I had the privilege (no sarcasm intended, I really did enjoy this) of cooking a huge brunch for everyone. I had Mom send me some of her breakfast recipes (cinnamon coffee cake and cheese, egg, and mushroom casserole) and Jayme sent me a scone one so that I could share a little taste of home with my ETA family. Megan also made some delicious banana bread and put together a fresh fruit salad. It was definitely a feast fit for Christmas morning!!
After stuffing ourselves beyond comfort, Eric and I went to play basketball with Adly (this was probably not the best timing, but in reality it is always a good time to play ball). It seemed surreal in so many ways that it was Christmas Day, but yet I was in shorts and a t-shirt playing a pick-up game in Egypt! Oh well, this entire year seems more surreal and dream-like than reality, so why should Christmas be any different?!?!
The most poignant part of the day, and maybe even my entire time in Egypt, came when I skyped my family. They were all at Mama and Papa's house, opening presents, laughing, and enjoying each others' company. It was difficult to think that they were all together without me and that I would have to wait 365 more days to have that same experience that I had for 21 years in a row without fail up until now. The best part of connecting with them, however, was not the awkward comment Papa said not knowing my friends were in the room (I am still holding that against you, Sir!) or seeing George in his Christmas cashmere (you were lookin' mighty good as usual), but having the opportunity to pray over my family and the meal they were about to enjoy. I felt closer to home during that moment than any other time this year and that was the best Christmas present I could have ever asked for.
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