Reply #6: I know what you mean, zanne.

[Heidi]

My first Christmas of living abroad was pretty tear-filled, but by the second year, I had learned to throw myself into what I love about the holidays: doing stuff for the neighbors ("neighboring" is sort of unheard of here), picking up unusual little gifts for our Swiss goddaughters, and trying to figure out what I could do for others in a state where I spoke only a smidgeon of Italian. I got through it by taking the focus off of my homesickness, and I hope you do, too. It's hard, I know. :hug: :hug: