For Christmas my friends invited me to their homes to celebrate this with me. Even if they are Muslims themselves and don’t have the tradition of Christmas! I feel that this is just so great and loving – I can not describe in words.
At work they build up a Christmas tree, which was looking really cute! Below they put some presents for both of us –Annie from England and me! I was so happy about that, never expecting to have that! We sang all Christmas songs together, had cake to eat! It was a great time!!!
Christmas Eve We were invited to Asmas place. We had a good Christmas dinner next to our Christmas flower. The flower was nicely decorated, candles were lighted! We sang songs, gave each other presents and really had a special time! I still feel happy about all this!
The next morning we went to church, which was supposed to start at nine in the morning. So I was kind of feeling in a hurry when we finally left for church at 9.45. As soon as we arrived, we figured out that we were not too late at all! They told us, that they might start in half an hour. The priest is at home to relax. We left for visiting a family and came back an hour later. Finally the service started. Caroline and me were sent up front to sit next to the nuns, which made me feel a bit strange. But still, it was a wonderful service, although we did not understand much in Urdu! The songs are great and just made us feel good and happy. Afterwards all the women came up to us, gave us a big hug and wished us a merry Christmas. We kind of had a hard time to leave that place….
We spend our lunch in the Holiday Inn, where we took a nice Christmas buffet! Annie invited Caroline and me… J Lots of things to eat…. Belly-friendly-growing-guarantee.
Next day we went to Mansehra, which is a place near the Earthquake region. It looks so wonderful their in between the mountains.. that I felt kind of sad seeing all the tentcamps around every couple of hundred meters. We lived there with Zainab’s family with amazing hospitality, that Caroline and I just felt as if being home (Zainab is Hissams Sister, a friend studying in Germany).
In Mansehra we visited the Earthquake victims in a tent as well. This was amazing, sad- something that made me think and will remain in my thoughts. All these children there – looking dirty and sad – but still they were smiling, when they saw us…. We altogether had a wonderful time packed with sad stories. I felt kind of helpless in this situation, but still was it good to be there and talk to them for some time! One lady holding a baby told us, that her mother died after 15 days when she was born due to the Earthquake….
We visited a school as well – which was good and impressive to get some new ideas. The school belonged to a woman, who build it up all on her own… this really inspired me seeing the circumstances in this more remote and conservative area!
Of course the children are so cute in Mansehra as well!
Happy about a wonderful christmas, full of new inspiration, thoughts and people, that were more nice to me than I could have ever imagined. Thanks to all of you spending this amazing time with me!
To all of you a happy new year and all the best for 2006!
posted by evainpakistan @ 9:24 PM
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