December

It`s starting to get colder now, and the winter is obviously around the corner. On a mission a few hours drive from Beirut I recently discovered one of the most typical signs of spring in Norway. A Tussilago farfara! It is in other words not a typical norwegian winter that`s waiting for me, but rather a combination of spring and autumn, I guess. At least in the capital city, where snowfall is not common. However, the houses here are not very well isolated, and when the temperature goes down to 12-13 degrees celcius and the rain is pouring down, I feel increadibly thankful that I decided to let the wollen underwear and grandma`s wollen rugs take up some space in my suitcase when leaving Norway. Up in the mountains the first snow has already paid a visit, and there the cold is being kept out of the homes with paraffin stoves and fireplaces in the rooms.

A few days ago Beirut started decorating the streets for Christmas. The arrangements of lights are modestly placed in shrubs, windows and across the streets, and in the shelfes in the shops a number of red and golden Santa Clauses, stars and other typical X-mas stuff have appeared. Suddently it hits me that December is here! As opposed to the norwegian context you don`t find Christmas marzipan on display in October i Beirut, and this might be part of the reason why this obvious fact has missed my attention completely. It`s almost X-mas! I have decided to spend the holydays in Norway, which I`m looking very much forward to. Without doubt it would have been special to experience the lebanese celebration, but so be it. Holydays are best spent together with those you love the most, and this is what I intend to do. I really miss my familiy.