Christmas stuff

Ok, time to play a little catch up! I haven't posted anything for a while, but that doesn't mean nothing was happening! We were actually quite busy right up until Christmas, especially the week before.

That Tuesday was the NATO Christmas party, which is very neat. All of the countries that are stationed here (I think there are about 12) get together for a big party, and each country has a table where they serve food from their homeland. It is really neat to go around the room and see and try all the different foods. We Americans did chili and cornbread this year, which didn't thrill everyone, but they were tired of doing ham and turkey every year. One country had made signs for each of their dishes saying what it was and what was in it, which I think was a really cool idea. Santa comes for the kids, and there is a raffle for some pretty cool prizes donated by different countries.

On Thursday, the 18th, was Emily's school Christmas show. Apparently they do this every year, and the kids practiced for it for about 2 months. Each grade level puts together a little play, skit, or song to show the parents. It was very cute! It was especially funny to hear all of the kids speaking English with their Italian accents (all the skits are in English). Having worked in public education in the US for 8 years, it was interesting to see the contrasts in what kids were willing and allowed to do. For instance, the secondary school kids did a mystery skit, and one of the "detectives" had a fake cigarette throughout the skit, which would never be allowed in an American school. Also, the 5th grade did a skit based on Romeo and Juliet, and, at the end when the families realize their folly in being enemies, the kids representing each family hugged, including boys. There is no way you could get American 5th grade boys to hug each other!

Here are some pictures of Emily's class' skit "Snow White on Christmas Night." Emily was a dwarf. That is one of Jeff's sweaters she is wearing.


Below are a couple of pictures of the end of the show when the whole school came out and sang a few Christmas carols. All the black shadows in the lower picture are the parents standing in the aisles taking pictures.

It was a cute little show, and Emily sure enjoyed working on it!