We're approaching the end of Christmas break... And I'm really not sure I'm ready to go back to school. I had three weeks off and somehow it still feels like we should have two more weeks to go... But I passed such a lazy break - that's why it feels so short, I'm sure. The days sort of melded together - this one we had a lot of snow - this one we went and visited the grandparents - this one I hung out with my oldie for the last time. And so on. But I am enjoying it immensely.
Side note: I referred to my 'oldie'. Within the group of exchange students there are the 'oldies' and the 'newies' - those who have been in the country for half or more of their exchange already. This is because there are people like me, all the North Americans and some of the South Americans, and the few Europeans, who arrived around August. Then there are some South Americans, Australians, New Zealanders who arrive in January. I am currently making my change from newie to oldie as the Southern Hemisphere-ers are leaving and new Southern Hemisphere-ers are arriving... The newies in your school, your host Rotary club, or in your general region are 'your' newies - basically you end up hanging out more with them since their in your area. I had the coolest oldie ever and now he's heading back to New Zealand here in a couple days!