Christmas in Summer???

So this is my first Christmas away from family, first Christmas overseas, and first Christmas in summer. So far I have struggled to feel like it is truly Christmas. The sun doesn't set until about 8:30pm, and the average temperature is about 26C (85F). I also have noticed that people and places don't seem to decorate (inside or outside), play Christmas music, or seem as excited about the season as America. People seem to be more focused on the school holidays aka summer break, and are planning fun summer trips and events rather than focusing all their time on Christmas like we do back home. I do have to say there are still plenty of people here that are as excessive in their holiday cheer as we are back in the states, but as a whole there seems to be less Christmas spirit.

I have discussed with several locals, my concerns about not feeling like it is Christmas. They believe that a lot of the differences have to do with the season. We have cold, short days, where we don't have anything to do or look forward to besides the holidays and the traditions you have with friends and families. Here, it's summer, so although they celebrate they also are outside enjoying the wonderful weather and doing "normal summer stuff".

I have struggled to find Christmas things here, however with the help of my fellow Northern Hemisphere friend we were able to find a Christmas light display and Christmas carols in the city. We also viewed the David Jones windows (like the windows in NYC, they are known for their Christmas display). I have started to make the traditional candies and goodies that I make every year with my mom, refuse to listen to anything but Christmas music, and had a night of Christmas light looking and Christmas movie watching with my friend that lives near by.

Although it's been hot and it's sunny for 10 hours a day, it's beginning to feel a bit like Christmas with some of the familiar traditions from back home.  As I am introduced to the traditions and experience of Christmas in Australia, I am also trying to share some of my traditions from back home with those I know here.

 Christmas at the house I'm living at

 Tree in Sydney's Martin Place

 Christmas light looking in the burbs

Santa in his shorts, sunnies, with his surf board

The light show on the side of Town Hall

Bye for now <3

Pictures

Per the request of some of my friends without Facebook, here are some pictures from my past few months in Sydney.

Trip to Taronga Zoo:

This past weekend I took a trip to Minnamurra (2 hours south of Sydney) to visit my friend and her parents. It is at the end of a river, where it meets the ocean. I was able to try paddle boarding and have a swim in the beautiful water. Looking forward to spending almost a week here again between Christmas and New Years. This is the spectacular view they have whenever they decide to have a quick weekend away. :

Bye for now <3

Thanksgiving Down Under

So Thanksgiving has come and gone, but I'm just now getting around to writing about it. I had Thanksgiving twice this year. I made a full turkey, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, stuffing, gravy, and rolls for dinner on Thanksgiving evening for the family I live with and an English friend. I wanted them to experience a tradition that we have back home, that is unique to America (and Canada). The family enjoyed the food and they were stuffed by the end of the dinner and enjoyed all the food. The one question I got at the end of dinner was "Now is it time for pumpkin pie?!?" I didn't know that pumpkin pie was unique to America, and not something they have here in Australia, everyone I have met/talked to about Thanksgiving has mentioned pumpkin pie. I however did not make pumpkin pie that evening.

Sunday evening I went over to a friend's house and made Thanksgiving again for her and her friends, we had turkey breasts and thighs, mashed potatoes, candied yams, salad, and pumpkin pie. Thankfully there was enough filling left after we made the pie (from scratch!) that I was able to bring home some filling and make pie for the family I live with. Everyone LOVED the pie and enjoyed experiencing an American tradition. I'm happy that I was able to share some of my traditions with a few people and am looking forward to experiencing several of the Australian traditions in the months to comes, like a summer Christmas, Australia Day, and ANZAC Day.

Bye for now <3