In the last four and half months we've had highs and lows. What I've learned most about myself is that I do fine as long as I know Aaron is fine. When I know he is struggling, I struggle too. He has shared that the Eastern European culture is not one where many, if any, hugs are shared. So while I know I can't fix all of his problems, the Mom in me just yearns to put my arms around him.
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| Harley, our cat, was glad we finally put up the nativity. He likes to be a part of the scene. |
Many of our family and friends have checked in during the holidays...wondering how we were doing. The strange thing was that it was the days leading up to the holidays that were more difficult than the actually day. Aaron hit a rough patch about four days before Thanksgiving. Mike helped him with some critical thinking while trying his best not to make any decision for Aaron. Stateside, Christmas preparations were difficult to get moving with no "child" in the house. The advent decorations stayed in the attic until, I think, the third Sunday of the season. Christmas shopping lacked motivation as well. However, as a couple we came together and resisted the temptation of laziness and put up a live tree on Christmas eve as has become our family tradition.
Aaron, meanwhile, was eating carp in Slovakia with his host family. Good thing he's learned to be polite. He grew up hearing that carp is a "dirty fish...a bottom feeder." I did a little research and found this:
In the cities, opening of Christmas markets signals the arrival of Christmas. In the booths you will find food specialties such as lokše, flat potato-dough pancakes filled with sauerkraut, goose liver, or jam, and also varené víno, mulled wine. But it’s not the food or the Christmas trees that people come looking for. They come to buy a live carp. The fish is kept alive (usually in the bathtub to the delight of any kids in the family) until Christmas Eve. The scales are removed and the fish is prepared for dinner. According to Catholic traditions, meat could not be consumed until after midnight mass. The fast did not apply to fish and fried breaded carp became the traditional main course on this holiday. The fish scales represent coins; whoever keeps one in his or her wallet can be assured of wealth. For more about their traditions, you can visit "Christmas in Slovakia."On Christmas day, we got together with Aaron on facebook and had "face time" for the first time. He chuckled when he first saw us. I'm not sure why. I'm hoping it was a happy laugh. We sent pictures back and forth of gifts we'd received and gifts that would be waiting for him when he got home.
The New Year found Aaron moving to his second host family. This was met with much trepidation, but so far his reports are good. He is especially happy to be a two minute walk to a lake that he can skate on and play hockey. Today, he just wrapped up skiing for a week in a mountain range referred to as the Low Tetras. He sent his father and me a message yesterday with pictures of the slopes.
He said that skiing down the 6000 foot mountain was "one of the scariest things I've done in my life but man am I glad I did it." This afternoon, he shared that he and a new friend made the extra effort to hike to the top of Chopok, a mountain peak, while others stayed behind. His joy was unmistakable. These are the reasons you do a gap year.
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| Mike and I agreed this was our favorite picture he sent us the day of his first major descent. |
On Monday, he'll return to the routine of school. And quickly the days will begin to slip by as we all plan for his return. No doubt there is still much adventure for him...but still hard to grasp that the time is nearly half gone.
