Christmastime

Being away from home at the holidays was something that I had always assumed would be strange. I was in Toronto for Christmas last year, but my family was with me there too so it still felt fairly normal. This year, however, was vastly different.

Despite the obvious weather difference, Christmas over here just isn't quite the same. Back in New Zealand it's almost as though the whole country comes to a stand still while we celebrate Christmas and New Years, not here though. I don't really know how to explain it properly, but even though its a winter wonderland over here, it doesn't really feel like Christmas.

So, sure, I was missing home to the extreme, but we still managed to have a good time. As Christmas Eve here was Christmas Day at home, we celebrated that night with a big dinner. Courtney and Dean did pretty much all the cooking and organising for the night, and they did a great job.  There was way too much food, standard for Christmas, although it didn't last that long during the next few days as the boys eat like its going out of style. We had heaps of fun, followed up by an "ugly sweater party" up at the bar. Some of us didn't have sweaters though so we just wore tinsel and Santa hats, but it was pretty much the same.

I had to work on Christmas Eve and Day, so Boxing Day was a full day of snowboarding.  We progressed up from the beginners hill, to the T Bar,  finishing up on Mile 1 (a real life chair lift run!!) before our afternoon break. That evening we hit the slopes again for a touch of night boarding. It was a little scary at first, but the mountain was really well lit so we just went for it. It was going really well, at first, but on my second run down I took a turn to strongly which caused me to fly backwards and smash my head onto the snow. It was a little awful. Everyone stopped to make sure I was ok, which was nice, but, as I had to lie still to make sure I hadn't broken anything, they thought I was knocked out. Oops. All I can say, is that I am so thankful that I was wearing a helmet. That snow is solid.

Well, Christmas is over, a snowboard has been purchased, and we are now prepping for the madness that will occur on New Year's Eve. Should be fun. The resort is going to be so packed that none of the staff are allowed in the bars. Not to worry though, a party is being thrown for us in the staff accommodation down the mountain. Although, most of us have to work. Ugh.

Happy holidays!

Thanks for reading!