Being able to travel back to Germany during my winter break was going to be the most memorable holiday season of my life. Why? Because every winter break, since we have moved to Texas in 2002, has been spent at home in Killeen, Texas. However, my mother had informed me during the previous summer months that we would be going to Germany for the holidays, as well as, spending it with my aunt, uncle, and grandmother in their homes. Additionally, she had informed me of their plans for them taking us to the Christmas markets, trying food around the local area, and attending the church my mother went to as a child on Christmas Eve. Sadly, around the middle of November, my mother had broken her leg and would not have been able to make a full recovery before the trip. Though my holidays were spent yet again in Texas, I could imagine what my winter break would have been like if I had spent the holidays in Germany. …show more content…
Due to the fact that my flight left on Friday at 6:30 a.m. in Austin, Texas I was allowed to miss school on Friday as long as I had already taken my other exams for my other classes. In spite of having an entire Friday morning to become situated, my mother would have known I would not have been ready to leave on time in the morning. Personally, I think of myself to be a person who would procrastinate on packing their suitcase. However, during the night before the trip, my mother would have had helped me to pack my suitcase, so we would not have been in a rush in the morning. However, packing my suitcase would have been at the least of my problems, since the idea of flying at 60,000 feet in the air terrifies me. Basically, I am
On a cold winter day, my family was getting ready to meet at my grandma’s house like we had done our whole lives. Christmas was one of the most important days of the year for the Robertson’s. Each aunt made entrées and deserts along with the delicious food that my grandma made each year. Food and family were the two main reasons everyone loved Christmas. On the way to Triune where my family lives, my mother started to cry which I thought was odd for
Skipping Christmas starts out at the gate in an airport. Luther and Nora Krank are there with their daughter Blair, waiting for a flight to Miami that will eventually bring her to eastern Peru, where she is going with the Peace Corps. They all say their goodbyes and the parents leave. Nora is very upset, while Luther isn’t so much. On the way home they stop at a store for white chocolate and pistachios. Luther unwillingly goes in to get it and finds every little thing a hindrance. He is easily annoyed, and doesn’t get the white chocolate. Nora then has to go in the store to get it, and she does so with much annoyance. While Nora is in the store, Luther daydreams about not having to do the Christmas season.
Thanksgiving break a bust,I thought.The fall air swept through as my sister and I kept playing volleyball.My mom came bursting out,she was trying to catch her breath as I questioned,
Distance is a problem in many homes whether it be through emotional distance or physical Distance or it may just be that the word love is not spoken enough, in both Robert Hayden’s poem “Those Winter Sundays” and Rita Dove’s “Daystar” is a distant parent are they selfish or mean or is the love they do show just not understood?
My parents traveled for a living, and even though they were gone a lot I still remember them being home ever holiday. We carved pumpkins, decorated, and dressed up each year. I remember running
Before, I could even take note, it was already October. It was time for me to pack everything in my room, and say my final goodbyes to my family members. I was going to leave everything that meant a lot to me behind. Previously, before October, we picked up my dad from the airport so that he could help us load all of our belongings to the U-Haul truck. Lily, ‘my cousin’, (we aren’t related, she is just a very close friend who I consider family) was staying with use because she want to see her father, who was also living in Denver. My mom and dad, sister, uncle, cousin, and I all stayed at the house one last night. I remember that my sister said that all her friends gathered around my mom’s car to wave goodbye to her. Her closest friends got very emotional and they started to cry. Not only did the move affect me, it also affected my sister greatly. It was like someone had given her a punch in the stomach. By the next day, we had everything in the U-Haul truck, and it was time for me to leave my precious Vegas behind. We had now started the drive to
Christmastime was always a magical time of year for me. The beautifully decorated shopping malls, with toys everywhere you looked, always fascinated me. And the houses, with the way their lights would glow upon the glistening snow at night, always seemed to calm me. But decorating the Christmas tree and falling asleep underneath the warm glow of the lights, in awe that Santa Claus would soon be there, was the best part of it all. As a child, these things enchanted me. Sure, the presents were great, but the excitement and mystery of Christmas; I loved most of all. Believing…that’s what it was all about. Believing there really was a Santa and waking up Christmas morning, realizing he’d come, as my sleepy eyes focused on all the fancily wrapped presents before me.
It was a beautiful, sunny day in South Florida. I was six years old, playing by the pool with my new puppy. I loved swimming in the pool almost every day after school. I also enjoyed going out on our boat after school or crossing the street and going to the beach. My father came home one evening with some interesting news. Now, I do not remember exactly how I felt about the news at that time, but it seemed like I did not mind that much. He had announced that we were going to move back to my birth country, Belgium. I had been living in Florida for five years and it was basically all I had known so I did not know what to expect. I had to live with my mom at first, and then my sister would join us after she graduated high school and my father finished settling things. I remember most of my earlier childhood by watching some old videos of me playing by the pool and dancing in the living room. It seemed like life could not get any better. However, I was excited and impatient to experience a new lifestyle. I realized that I could start a whole new life, make new friends and learn a new language. Belgium was not as sunny as South Florida but it has much better food and family oriented activities. Geographic mobility can have many positive effects on younger children, such as learning new languages, being more outgoing, and more family oriented; therefore, parents should not be afraid to move around and experience new cultures.
My Mom was very “Autocratic” (Popkin) about this issue. She is the youngest child of seven and every one of her siblings received awards for never missing a day of school in all twelve years. They were recognized in the town newspaper for this achievement combined with never missing a day of Sunday School. My older brother never missed a day of school from K-12. I missed one day in 4th grade when instead I went to the doctor because I insisted on staying home. My younger sisters both missed a day or two. One broke her leg but only missed about one day, the youngest was granted permission to miss school in High School for my Grandmother’s funeral. My brother left for his mission in August before school started so we got to go to the MTC to see him off; however when he left for Mexico, only my parents went to the airport to see him off (back in the days prior to the TSA when you could wait at the gate to say good-bye). My sisters and I were in school that day because my mom didn’t feel that was a valid reason to miss school. I went to school in 8th grade after throwing up in the morning. I remember feeling absolutely horrible all day and running into the bathroom at lunch to throw-up again. Clearly, missing school was not-negotiable for any reason. This issue handled in an autocratic style has had interesting effects on me. On the one hand I feel guilty when my children stay home from
It was about two years ago when I arrived in United States of America, and I still remember the day when I left my native country, Honduras. As I recall, one day previous to my departure, I visited my relatives who live in San Pedro Sula. They were all very happy for me to see me except my grandmother Isabel. She looked sad; even though she tried to smile at all times when I was talking to her, I knew that deep inside of her, her heart was broken because of my departure the next morning. I remember that I even told her, “Grandma, do not worry about me, I’ll be fine. I promise that I will write you letters and send you pictures as much as possible.” Here reply was, “I know sweetie I know you will.” Suddenly after she said that I started to cry. For som...
Ever since I could remember, I have spent Christmas at my grandmother’s house, a house which is full of comfort, warmth, and happiness. At Christmas, I have always been able to escape the cold and dark real world allowing myself to truly enjoy just several moments in time. These moments have left impressionable memories from my childhood making Christmas a holiday that is special to me and my family. It is a time for my family to get together, share stories, laugh, and even cry.
Our imperative family tradition was a summer vacation. Completely neglecting any responsibilities for a week, vacations were the perfect excuse. Fostering an environment for bonding, our annual vacations helped in creating lifelong memories. According to a Disney Time Survey conducted by Kelton, 82% of time on vacation is considered family time. This finding is evident, especially in one of my recent vacations. The months preceding and following this specific family trip, were filled with various milestones which prohibited much bonding: my mother’s diagnosis of Lung Cancer, my older sister’s wedding day, and my senior year preparation. If it wasn’t for our last hurrah, we may not have been able to successfully sit the needed amount of time
This previous summer I received the chance to go on a breathtaking trip to Europe. I have relatives in Europe that I have not been able to see in five years. In just thirty days my family and I visited Germany and Bosnia. Germany is a beautiful country that has a completely different way of life than America, from the way people dress to the way they act there is a very big culture gap. When I visited Bosnia it opened my eyes to the world, and I realized not everyone has the same opportunities I have here in America. I feel like this trip I took this summer showed me that I should be thankful for all that my parents have done for my brother and I to have a better life and future here in America. I also feel like I should try harder to stay in contact with my family that lives overseas because even though they are thousands of miles away they are still family who cares and yearns for my presence.
December 25 is the time of year that everyone celebrates, but does not know the true meaning of this day. Christmas is my favorite holiday because it is the time of year for loving, giving, and remembering who this holiday is for.
As I skim through the Chadwick’s mail-order catalog, I come across a woman, who looks as if she is in her mid-thirties, standing outside on the snow-covered ground. Her gloved hand is arched back in a ready-to-throw position with a snowball resting in her palm. The woman is wearing a ¾ length gray wool coat and black leather gloves, which catches my eye. The serene, white-topped leaves of the pine trees lean in different directions, waiting for spring to arrive. “Winter is a breeze if you buy this coat” is the message I receive from this friendly-gestured woman. This warm, easy feeling especially comes into play during the holiday season when we buy gifts for our friends and family.