Noticing Differences and Changes Compared to the Past

My First Christmas Tree

Boyfriend took me to get a Christmas tree (fake) for my apartment as I never fail to put up my (family's) Christmas tree every beginning of December. December in Taichung is a little odd for me. I have NEVER been in a place in December where the temperature was 20 degrees celsius!!!!

Anyway, I love my dear tree. It is very simple: cheap red and green bulbs, sparkly snowflake ornaments and cheap but cute and twinkling lights. Boyfriend is also going to bring some cut-out pieces of sparkly reflective material in shapes of Christmas trees and etc. so that I can sprinkle them onto my tree for added sparkliness. :)

As Boyfriend and I were trimming the tree, I reflected back on Germany 2 years ago. I won't go into details as I don't like getting too personal on these blogs (that is what my actual journal is for :) ) but I was down and out and in a bad place...VERY bad...downward spiral...anyway, I reflected back on that and compared it to now:

• I have my OWN tree and have decorated it MYSELF (with the help of boyfriend)
• I am working and have a job and...it is worthwhile!!!
• I'm not fighting with parents and our relationship is as good as ever!
  
• I have money to send my mom and step-dad a small Christmas package...small but from the heart.
• I am working hard at studying Chinese and love it!
• I have a nice boyfriend who has so far been just great!
• Although, this is not as much as I want, I AM getting out and seeing things and experiencing things...remember what I said...baby steps...
• I have money and I have neough to save!!! Even though, I intend on investing in things like a printer/scanner/copier in one, Adobe Photoshop Elements, cheap CD-player, laminator, etc. etc. and other things to help me settle here and be MORE COMFORTABLE...

In short: I have done something with my life and continue to work hard to keep that dream alive...as silly as that sounds...

I also bought a warm blanket because the nights do get chilly here and if you don't have a heater then a blanket is a good investment for these months. So when I bought the blanket, it came with a comforter cover and so I had a choice and they were ALL ugly so I chose the UGLIEST one, NOT only because it is Christmassy but because it WAS the ugliest!

I swear, this blanket reminds me of the tablecloth my Grandma B. used to have for Christmas...Those are Poinsettias, by the way.

Well, that's it for now. My feet are quite chilly even though they are in socks and fuzzy Ikea Slippers so that is my cue to go cuddle in my comfy comforter in its FUGLY comforter cover and fall asleep to the hypnotizing Christmas tree lights-which is what I used to do as a kid. The lights on the ceiling above the tree always reminded me of fireworks and would just sit there relaxed while soft Christmas music was taking me away to Sugar Plums, Nutcrackers and Dancing Snowflakes...