Christmas

Hersey candy cane kisses in Finnish Mariskooli bowl :)

Cute little gingerbread houses made by my host sister :)

It's been such a nice holiday, I really enjoy sleeping in and just relaxing. I've been spending a lot of time with my host family which I enjoy a lot too! During the last two weeks of the school I was so busy with the Holiday Concert that I didn't even had time to sit down to everyday dinners with them. I'm so grateful to have such a wonderful host family, they are a perfect mach for me. 

On Monday night I went to LCBC church with my liaisons. Even thought I'm not really religious, I've wanted to go to a church here. Just basically to see how different it is compared to our church and to experience new things. Well, the "church" was nothing like I was expecting it to be :D It was more like a concert, where they had a speech with religious references in it. It was really nice to go there and enjoy the music. Sadly I didn't had my camera with me so I don't have pictures from there. 

I've used to celebrate Christmas on the Christmas Eve, but in America they celebrate it on the Christmas day. I wanted to share some Finnish traditions with my host family so on Tuesday 24th I made Christmassy spice cake and glögi, glögg, mulled wine or whatever you want to call it. They had this cool chocolate orange, that you smash a couple of times to the table and then it peels out automatically to slices and is ready to eat. So cool :D

 Later on the Christmas Eve I went to a church again, this time with Nanny and my youngest host sister Molly. The church that we went was more like our church and they had a nice Christmas worship with a lot of music. My family has this tradition to go to a church on the Christmas Eve, so it was really nice to do it here too.

Molly came to wake me up on the Christmas Day. Mom had made a big breakfast, beacon, sausages, pancakes and etc. I've used to have snow on the Christmas but this year it was different. When I looked outside, it was looking more like a spring or something else than winter. But holiday music and decorations made it feel more like a Christmas.

The best envelope I've ever got, thanks Alex! :D

Then it was time for the moment that we all had been waiting for, to open all the presents!! I seriously wasn't expecting to get this much presents, but it seems like I've been very nice this year ;) I got so many thoughtful gifts, can't even describe how happy it made me feel. Beautiful dresses, cozy socks, books, yummy teas, Warriors blanket, and of course a stocking full of candy.

I got this the most beautiful make-up bag from my parents. They didn't want to send me a lot of presents, because it would have been really stupid to send me a lot of stuff that I'd had to bring back home. (and I already bought myself some presents.) My mom got this for me from Moscow, I'm absolutely in love with it. 

Later on the Christmas Day we went to Nanny's and Pop's house. They offered us some glögi and snacks, and then we exchanged more gifts. From the grandparent's house we headed to Sheetz to pick up Alex from work and to get free coffee. (We need this kind of places in Finland too, who wouldn't love to have a free hot drink!) The rest of the day we were just chilling and watching movies. My first American Christmas was so great in every way! Hopefully you all had amazing Christmas :)