Santa Claus got lost on his way to Hannover...

So you may or may not have noticed this most recent absence of mine from Hankins in Hannover, but fret no longer because I have returned!  Expect a few posts this week detailing my adventures from the past few weeks including Christmas Break.

So after spending the first few days of 2010 in Berlin, I returned to Hannover last week to find an actual pile of presents waiting on me!  Advice for anyone spending the holidays abroad--make sure to tell you family they have to ship presents before Dec. 1st if they expect you to get them in time for Christmas.  I actually thought it was kind of nice getting a post-New Year surprise.

 

But going back to the beginning of Christmas season--like I mentioned before, I spent Heiligabend (Christmas Eve) with Louisa (a teacher I work with) and her family.  I arrived at their house around 3:00 pm, and we went straight to the 4:00 pm church service, at this cute little church near where they live in Kirchrode.  It was interesting to attend a Christmas service in Germany because while I understand the biblical Bible Story (New King James, the songs and hymns were completely, well, "foreign" to me.  Afterwards, I went home with them to relax, eat a typical German Christmas Eve meal of Würstchen, Kartoffelsalat and Herringsalat (sausage, potato salad and herring salad).  I was surprised to see that Germans actually still light real candles on their trees, though it seems like a pretty bad idea to surround a dead, dried out softwood tree in fire, but to each his own.  The family then exchanged gifts, where I was surprised by Louisa with not only a set of gift certificates to the movie theater in downtown Hannover but also with an amazing German goodie basket filled with beer and food like sausages, cheeses, chocolate, gummy bears and other assorted awesomeness.

In a manner not too different from my typical American holiday experiences, the beer and schnapps were flowing freely in Kirchrode this Heiligabend.  Did I mention that I baked a big batch of peanut butter cookies to take them?  The reaction was overwhelmingly good--I was pretty surprised since peanut butter just isn't nearly as common here in Germany as it is in the US.  While it's not all too hard to find anymore, it's still definitely far from common.

Fast forward to me back in Hannover--I had not only a package from Chuck with a warm sweater, but also stocking stuffings from my Mom and my "secret Santa" gift from Josh and Kelli.  Combined with the remnants of Sam's package from December, I know have enough American food and candy to last me at least through the winter (maybe). 

  

The Starbucks travel mug was actually a Christmas gift from myself that I bought in Berlin but notice that little piece of awesomeness next to it!  So thanks to everyone who made this a great Christmas season--I couldn't have been happier (special thanks to Josh and Kelli for the iPod nano that has already gotten tons of use!).  Last but not least, in Chuck's package my mom threw in some more warm socks, which I was really excited to find (it's been freakin' cold here), and I now I feel old and boring since I look forward to gifts like thick socks.