Because I love the volunteer lifestyle and because I like to test myself, I decided to spend my Christmas time far away to my family, my culture, and my bearings.
Yes my parents were disappointed. Yes I will be going to miss the familiar atmosphere. But no I was not afraid to feel sad, alone, lost, or many more: to regret my choice.
Quite the opposite.
Yes my parents were disappointed. Yes I will be going to miss the familiar atmosphere. But no I was not afraid to feel sad, alone, lost, or many more: to regret my choice.
Quite the opposite.
With the eye that I have right now about my Christmas time, I feel totally enriched, fresh and full of good energy to start my new year 2016!
But let’s start by the beginning.
The 24th of December 2015 - I took the bus from Serres to Thessaloniki in order to catch my second bus for Lefkada in the afternoon. But before this adventure, I had time to enjoy this celebration’s period in Serres! The bakeries were full of Melomacarona and Kourabiedes… and my stomach too. The streets were transformed in the imaginary world of Santa Claus & his elves with a Christmas music everywhere! Plus, the whole town was buzzing: bars and coffees always full of people and the places were enlightened nicely. But watch out! Here in Greece these are not the pine trees which are decorated but the boats! I could contemplated it in Lefkada but also in the mountains’ area like Serres we can see some (imitation) boat installations…
The night before my leaving from Serres, I could try my first Rakomelo with a Greek friend and this is a perfect drink for the winter weather: Raki, honey, cinnamon. The whole hot. Mmmh a delicacy!
But I did not expect yet to have bigger surprises in the next few days…
Indeed, I can say that I celebrate Christmas through the Greek and Spanish lifestyle! Everything was here: Warm sun, blue sea, festive music, night life, paella and Raki! It seems a bit strange but it was amazing when I remember…
And the more incredible was my bath in the Ionian Sea for the 25th of December. Acceptable temperature and warm sun. Of course.
More than to have discovered another way to spend my Christmas holidays, I have enriched myself personally.
But let’s start by the beginning.
The 24th of December 2015 - I took the bus from Serres to Thessaloniki in order to catch my second bus for Lefkada in the afternoon. But before this adventure, I had time to enjoy this celebration’s period in Serres! The bakeries were full of Melomacarona and Kourabiedes… and my stomach too. The streets were transformed in the imaginary world of Santa Claus & his elves with a Christmas music everywhere! Plus, the whole town was buzzing: bars and coffees always full of people and the places were enlightened nicely. But watch out! Here in Greece these are not the pine trees which are decorated but the boats! I could contemplated it in Lefkada but also in the mountains’ area like Serres we can see some (imitation) boat installations…
The night before my leaving from Serres, I could try my first Rakomelo with a Greek friend and this is a perfect drink for the winter weather: Raki, honey, cinnamon. The whole hot. Mmmh a delicacy!
But I did not expect yet to have bigger surprises in the next few days…
Indeed, I can say that I celebrate Christmas through the Greek and Spanish lifestyle! Everything was here: Warm sun, blue sea, festive music, night life, paella and Raki! It seems a bit strange but it was amazing when I remember…
And the more incredible was my bath in the Ionian Sea for the 25th of December. Acceptable temperature and warm sun. Of course.
More than to have discovered another way to spend my Christmas holidays, I have enriched myself personally.
7 months to be immersed in a different culture, environment and way of life. That is the EVS. I had to enjoy deeply and take all the things that I can take for myself during this short time.
Through my choice to stay in Greece for my Christmas holidays, I wished to experiment myself and to see how I can adapt and react faced with this “unusual” situation for me at that point.
After all, I missed nothing. I could desacralize this festive period and that is like a relief… Actually, Christmas can be perfect without traditional conventions or with a mixture of different codes! No presents and no big family meals for me, but a lot of unexpected things.
Most of all, right now, I am persuade that everywhere we can find the same human warmth even if you don’t share the same codes or ways to live… You just need to open your mind and search the resemblance with the other one.
And that is enough to feel good. Your lack will be fill by the cultural & human wealth of others.
By Camille Jego.
Through my choice to stay in Greece for my Christmas holidays, I wished to experiment myself and to see how I can adapt and react faced with this “unusual” situation for me at that point.
After all, I missed nothing. I could desacralize this festive period and that is like a relief… Actually, Christmas can be perfect without traditional conventions or with a mixture of different codes! No presents and no big family meals for me, but a lot of unexpected things.
Most of all, right now, I am persuade that everywhere we can find the same human warmth even if you don’t share the same codes or ways to live… You just need to open your mind and search the resemblance with the other one.
And that is enough to feel good. Your lack will be fill by the cultural & human wealth of others.
By Camille Jego.
