More like melancholy New Year for me. This year New Years was different. There was no countdown, no party, no friends, no fake champagne, no fireworks no revelry. Just me sitting in my dorm room, watching the clock on my computer roll from 11:59 to 12:00. Nothing exciting, no cheering, no singing and it kind of makes me think, this night it is not that special really, it is the people, the moments, and the hope this night give us that are special. While I had no people and no moments this night, I have no shortage of hope. 2009 will be a good year, I have no doubt.
The whole holiday season was that way, I suppose. While I worked my tail off to make Thanksgiving a taste of home it wasn't the same. Christmas in Swaziland with Whitney was awesome, but not the same, and New Years was a shell of its normal revelry. These moments, these gaping holes in my normal routines and traditions serve as glaring reminders that "I don't think I'm in Kansas anymore." (Ok, so I mean Michigan but that just didn't work.)
The people here acknowledge the season, how could they not with their unrequited love affair with America, but it is nothing compared to home. The malls have decorations with Santas, trees (all fake of course) and tinsel but these are only a consumer ploy. The people don't buy into the spirit in the same way. No one's house is decorated, most people don't go to church on Christmas. The biggest celebrations are usually casual meals which may be just a a little nicer than normal, in many houses this means that the children get to eat meat, a right offered reserved for the adults, and in poor households only the man. The first Christmas song I heard was at a very nice, and of course overwhelmingly white, mall in South Africa on the 23rd of December. Ironically enough it was "Feed the World." The song sports the lyrics, "Do they [Africans] know it's christmas time at all." The irony of hearing that song in Africa absolutely cracked me up. They do know. In fact, a taxi-man in Maseru said to me, "May I ask you a question? Is Christmas on the same day everywhere, like in America?" I told him it was and his eyes filled with a little wonder. I told him that where I'm from there was snow on the ground (yes they know what snow is, actually Lesotho even have a ski slope.) I missed the snow. A once in a lifetime experience to see a different side of things, and a wonderful reminder of where I come from, and where home is.
If you're interested in more of my thoughts on the New Year check out this link.
All the best in the New Year.
Love,
Tommy
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2 comments:
Happy New Year!! You had a wonderful 2008 unlike most people. Looking back years from now you will have very fond memories of 2008 the rest of us were enduring a year of great dislocation in the financial world. I for one was glad to see the year end and a new year begin. Sorry to hear the meloncoly nature of your night. You have many other great nights ahead of you and like you said it is just another night change of the calander nothing more. Take care look forward to seeing you when you get back....
Uncle Jon
*hug*
my new years was melancholy as well. I love you!
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