Stick in til you Stick out!

It's the time of year to spend with family and friends, enjoying the traditions of the season. I am very fortunate enough to have made it home for Christmas, especially considering all of the mayhem in Europe over the weather.

Boxing Day is a special one in the Morrison household as we all get up early and make Tatty Scones or Potato Pancakes, a Scottish tradition. We were rolling, frying and flipping potatoes this morning for 2 hours before we sat down for a feast and stuck in til we stuck out. This afternoon marks the start of the World Junior hockey tournament, which brings back some great memories of Christmases past. Its that time of year when you reminisce and remember, yet also look to the future. With 2011 right around the corner, new opportunities and experiences will come forward and I can't wait to see what is in store for me.

I hope my flights back to Europe are as smooth as coming here and if so I will be ringing in the New Year in Amsterdam.

Best of the Season to all and I hope that you are surrounded by loved ones who help make this time of year so special.

Laura from home in Sault Ste. Marie

Tis the Season!

It's the most wonderful time of the year, at least in my opinion. Christmas is 2 weeks away and I could not be more excited. Getting into the festive spirit is my favourite thing about December, I have been playing Christmas music on repeat for the past two weeks. Adding to the atmosphere was the snow on the ground for the past couple of weeks, but it has all melted now.

Last weekend I went to Munster in Germany with some friends to visit the Christmas Market. It was amazing being back in Germany and shopping for Christmas presents, eating lots of great German food and let's not forget the Gluhwein :)

Last Sunday was another Dutch Holiday celebrated in December called Sinter Klaas. It's a traditional celebration where Sint comes and leaves candy, treats and toys in children's shoes. But the most interesting part of the Dutch tradition is that you write poems for your friends and family. Many of the students in my program got together last Monday night and we celebrated Sinter Klaas where we each wrote a poem for someone else. It was really fun celebrating this Dutch tradition with people from around the world.

This weekend I am in Amsterdam finishing up some assignments before leaving for Canada via Belgium for the holidays. Tonight I am going to go volunteer with the Amsterdam Rotaract Club in making Christmas hampers for homeless people in the city. Tomorrow there is a Christmas market here in Amsterdam and I will be going to compare to see if it measures up to the German variety.

Then it's back to work, humanitarian intervention discussions and deabtes on legality and legitmacy. The week will be gone before I know it and then it will be time to visit my host families and friends in Belgium and then home for a Morrison Christmas.

Best wishes of the Holidays to everyone!