Happy New Year, everyone!

I don't actually have enough room on my hard drive yet to do much with pictures, so the photo updates will have to wait further into this new year.... soon, I hope.

I have just gotten in from the New Year's celebration I went to. It's not the New Year yet for my hometown and anywhere else I've ever lived, but it's getting closer. By the time I wake up today/tomorrow it won't even be the New Year in California for my father unless I sleep through my alarm. I might very well just not set my alarm. At any rate, it is still nice to think about the time differences on a night like this.

Last year I was with mostly Americans, most of whom I'd known for the several months I'd been here at that point, and it was a large party, but not a wild one (just a few particularly memorable moments) with lots of food, playing cards, watching movies and tv, etc....

This year, I have just returned from a very international party, with folks from all throughout the Middle East, Europe, Asia, and North America, and one African. I wasn't aware of anyone there from South America or Australia, but perhaps there was one or two and I just didn't bump into them. It was not a large party, just a small representation from each country, but it was nice hearing such a mix of accents (English, of course, was still the language of the evening and only a few people not from the same country spoke the same languages --- such as the Canadian speaking French, whereas the Germans and Spaniards and Arabs didn't speak French...and I only spoke a few words) and about so many different New Year's customs all around the world. The food, most of it ethnic holiday favorites from the countries of the attendees, was all delicious, the company was all friendly, and the actual moment of New Year's found everyone counting down in English from ten to one and then six of the French popped out the corks on their champagne bottles and everyone cheered. It was different from a typical American party, but in a cozy and comforting way... a beautiful night of people from all over the world coming together and compromising on their own customs and traditions to have one unified celebration. Not that there wsa any particular *effort* put into this, mind you --- there were no dialogues or treaties beforehand, there were just a couple of moments of saying "oh, don't wish me Happy New Year before midnight, because that's bad luck" or similar cultural explanations that helped make it a nice party for everyone, without stepping on anyone's toes.

It was a great evening. And now I'm so tired my eyes are tearing up, so I'm off to bed.

Happy New Year, boys and girls! May the good Lord pour out His wise blessings upon us all, and grant us the great blessing of insight when He does.