Christmas is Here

On the Twelfth day of Quarantine...

In October we went into our second wave of lockdown and all schooling went to online. Online teaching has been an adventure but I was thrilled when we got to go back into the classroom at the end of November. It started slowly with only primary grades one and two. But by the first week of December all of our elementary were back in the school building. Face masks were mandatory but we soldiered through. 

Yet, our time in the classroom came to an abrupt end when we had a student's family test positive for Covid-19 and we were all put into quarantine. I didn't have any time to prepare as we got the call to stay at home late in the evening. So back to online learning for the last two weeks of school.

I missed not doing the normal Christmas festivities. Ornament making, and Christmas parties and Christmas programs.

I had to be creative with out Christmas performance of the Christmas story from Luke 2 as we never got a chance to recite it together. The students recorded their reciting of their verses and I stitched them together with pictures they illustrated the day before we went into quarantine.

Our high school choir also did two recordings.

Covid-19 at Christmas

This Christmas the pandemic has brought many changes. One of the saddest for me was no Christmas markets. The squares are bare asides from the lone Christmas tree and nativity.

Traditionally I join some friends for our annual day trip to Germany to enjoy the Christmas Markets. Alas this year markets are a no go. However, lack of Christmas markets did not slow our cheer or stop us from enjoying our Christmas market traditions. We still froze our toes and noses and hit up the farmer's markets that were happening, picked us up some sausage and smoked cheese and enjoyed our market treats from the comfort of home. Not exactly the same but we put on some Czech Christmas carols and made the best of it.

Covid-19 restrictions are a roller coaster and we are convinced that decisions are made by the spinning of the Wheel-of-Covid to decide what restrictions will be in place this week.

Rat-a-tat-tat-tat-tat.... this week restaurants will close but large grocery stores and malls will stay open. You can still get delivery from the window and eat it near the establishment, as long as you aren't around people who don't already live in your home.

I will be spending Christmas with friends who are my adopted family here. 

Even though things look very different this year we will not lose sight of the reason we gather together and celebrate, the birth of our Saviour. Thankful we have the opportunity to spread the good news!