Maggie Kriz: Veselé Vianoce a Štastný Nový Rok

Merry Christmas everyone and Happy New Year! I have been having such an amazing time over the break and my time in Slovakia is going by so quickly I really can't believe it. On December 23rd I officially hit the 4 month mark and it is difficult for me to believe that I will be changing host families on the 16th of January. I really love my host family and it will be very difficult for me to leave them but at the same time I look forward to seeing the inner-workings of other Slovak families as well.

I have been so busy here in Slovakia! Recently I had a Rotary weekend where we went to Bratislava (Slovakia's Washington, DC) and Vienna, Austria. They are both such beautiful places and the decorations during this time of year were truly amazing. Both cities are well known for their Christmas markets and it was great to be able to experience that chaos first hand. The streets were packed with people, I though Steamboat was crowded but now I realize what it could be and thank god we don't live there during the holidays! I also really loved exploring the history of these cities, they are both filled with beautiful castles, churches, and palaces that were built far before the Mayflower even hit Plymouth Rock.

Christmas here was very interesting but also very different from the United States. In Colorado I am used to my entire family coming up to Steamboat and spending a lot of time together, it really is a big deal and my mom's favorite holiday so she goes all out (I always tell her that it looks like Santa threw up in our house because of all the decorations). In Slovakia, it is much more low key (they only celebrate with their immediate family) and they actually celebrate Christmas on the 24th of December rather than the 25th. Perhaps my favorite thing they do though happens about a week before Christmas. In front of ever supermarket in Slovakia there are huge tanks full of these fish that I would guess are about 5 to 7 pounds. Every family buys a fish and you take them home and they live in your bathtub for a week (when you want to take a shower you have to scoop him up into a bucket and then put him back afterward) and you feed him and most of the small children get really attached even giving the animal names and playing with it. But then, on the 24th, the men take it out of the tub and kill it and you eat fried fish and potato salad for dinner.... It is a very odd tradition but I guess no better way to show children the value of a life.

I am also really looking forward to the week of January 7th to January 14th because I will be going to the Austrian Alps with my school! I miss skiing and snowboarding so much, it is insane! I guess I took having a ski mountain in my backyard for granted because now it is all I can think about! I am excited to see what the mountains are like here in Europe because the only places that I have ever skied are all in Colorado!

Well I have to go but Merry Christmas once again and I wish you all love and joy in the New Year! I will talk to you all soon! Oh and to all the skiers and boarders in the club, take a run for me!!