Winter Recess reflection

Over this winter break i did what i would normally do on a regular day, except my time wasn't as organized and scheduled as it is when there is school. aside from the weekends, christmas eve/day and new years eve/day i would hang out with friends, watch tv, read stuff, make holiday cards and send them, clean my house, do HW every now and then, but nothing of much importance. and i would repetedly do the same things each day until something of my interest came up. i made myself occupied with things that i really shouldnt have been doing, rather than taking care of what is more important like school work, making up work, college stuff, etc.

On the weekends and on official national holidays i would spend my time with family; family that came over or go and visit family. that was the only time where even some of us got together to celebrate both the birth of jesus and christmas (more so the food and gift-giving of christmas). aside from those days, i realized that none of us really communicated at all, in general whether through email, phone, etc. we rarely communicate but on such holidays we gather together and enjoy the time.

As i talked to people and asked them how their break went, i realized everyone of the people i spoke to had the typical american holiday break. they celebrated with family, friends, partied, drunk a lot of eggnog or alcohol, had lots of fun, put up a christmas tree and wrapped presents, recieved and gave presents, put up christmas lights, etc; were all basically in the american christmas/new years spirit. it also seems like a lot of families that arent really close-nit seem to find an excuse, almost, for getting together and being one because any other of the 361 days of the year would just be to much to handle and they cant just pass by each others homes and say hello, they actually have to be "forced" to get along kind of.

Aside from those things, another thing i noticed was that in the past years christmas and new years have been very lively and hyped up in my neighboorhood. meanwhile this year there were very very few christmas ornaments and decorations on windows, on doorsteps, in lobbys, on doors, etc. not much spirit was visible. on new years normally people would run out and scream and yell when the clock hit midnight and make complete fools of themselves, but this year everything, everything was completly toned down. it was really surprising. i figured such probably occured because of the situation america is in now, mainly the economy, but in all. i think people are starting to realize how fucked up this nation is.