Christmas

This was a tough Christmas. It was tough for all of the reasons you can imagine (being away from home, family, Chinese people don't really celebrate Christmas, I didn't get time off for Christmas, etc) but also for one very unexpected yet devastating reason.

I couldn't sing.

I still can't really; I've lost my singing voice for about ten weeks now. I couldn't sing my favorite carols for my kids and I couldn't sing songs at midnight mass. It was awful. I didn't realize what a powerful effect that would have on me, but I was (and am) pretty upset.

Though I'm not particularly religious, if I express it at all, it is through music, typically hymns and whatnot. I was all set for a beautiful Christmas eve service, albeit ruined by disrespectful churchgoers, and I couldn't raise my voice above a quiet piano or a middle A, maybe. Argh! I'm a mezzo soprano! So frustrating and depressing.

I know, I know, I need to rest my voice, drink tea...but I think it may just be Ellen's reaction to China. Lately it's been better, but I have to use it every day as a teacher and the pollution here is pretty rotten on the ol' vocal cords. If you have creative suggestions, post 'em! I'll try anything.

Luckily, there was a few things to lift my spirits.

1) Asian Santa

A youngish skinny man standing outside of the church handing out candy to young Chinese kids. And me.

 

That beard is all natural.

2) Eggnog hunt

On our cab ride back from church to our home on the other side of the river, Sara and I decided to go look for a holiday drink. We thought that a fancy Western cocktail bar would have eggnog, but we were wrong. We tried three places of varying fanciness, receiving looks of confusion and surprise when we asked if they had eggnog. We finally stopped in a tiny chocolate and wine bar called House of Flour, or HoF.

I asked in Chinese if they had eggnog and the waiter replied with, "Yes, but you may have to wait." I was unclear on what that meant, exactly, but we decided to take him up on his offer and sat down at a table. The man we asked disappeared for twenty minutes while Sara and I giggled at the surly but attractive Chinese bartender.

We observed some cinnamon stick crushing and saw that the monthly drink special was something very similar to eggnog and figured, hell, this should be great.

And it was! It was a bit strong (hello rum!) but warm and spicy. It was worth the walking and confusion just for a homey cup.

 

Nom nom. Plus they gave us free truffles!

More on church later.

ellen