How to survive an American Christmas

How to survive an American Christmas
24/12/2007

The fall semester has gone quickly. The students luckily have passed the exams, and they have returned to home, like good sons, like the turrón. Berkeley, the lively city around the University, is death without students.

With few people the dining hall is closed, the International Café is also closed. The lights in Davis Hall are shut off for saving energy, and it’s a good time to do the maintenance of different systems, like the water. They are going to change some valves, so we mightn’t have water for three days. Hopefully only until 11 a.m.

Around forty residents of I-house left. Some people are gone to home. Others traveling, and that was the plan. Elisabeta, Markus and some of his friends from Germany and I agreed to travel to Las Vegas and South California. Unfortunately she had to go home, so only six people left. Only six indeed but too enough because as only five people can travel in a small car, they decided to kick me out, for the only reasons that six people are a huge group, and it's more expensive. It is a bit late to join other groups as well, they have completed their plans.

I’ve been disappointed before in my life. My real friends know it is not the first time that I don’t fit in, but this time is very sad. This is Christmas, and I‘m extremely far from home, family and real friends. I feel terribly alone.
At that point I can do two things be sick of this Christmas without water, electricity, food, family and friends, or survive as usual.

Last Saturday, movie at Metreon. The movie was Sweeney Todd, the last Tim Burton’s and Johnny Deep’s film, which is a bloody musical. Yesterday it was night pizza with Japanese people, and piano. Tonight it has been Christmas Eve dinner. Martin, the former ambassador and now director of IHouse, and his wife have come, which is a good point for them.

And how about travelling? Of course. I have booked the tickets for next week; I’m going to enjoy two nights in San Diego, and another one in Santa Monica beach.

Even alone I can do a lot of grateful activities to survive, even I can work to prepare my stuff before my advisor is coming from Spain. I’ll survive.

Despite I consider myself post-atheist, this is a time for Christians to say sorry.

Merry Christmas and a happy New Year 2008

to everyone,
even for those who kicked me out.