New Years 5km Candle Lit Nordic Walking Event
Christmas this year was a totally new experience for me and my family this year. It marked the first year in my life that I spent the holiday away from home. Since our little baby was so small this year we made the difficult decision to stay in Switzerland. We did have family join us in Switzerland for the holiday so we weren’t alone, but it was very different. Some old traditions were put aside. Others we tried to replicate here as best we could in this new setting.
I don’t think having Christmas outside of the U.S. will be a permanent change, it feels like only a temporary arrangement.
Due to the fact that were were here we did get to do some local things that we wouldn’t normally have a chance to do. We bought our Christmas tree in the plaza under our apartment as opposed to the Jumbo home improvement store. Usually we don’t have that option because the vendors start selling trees in the city a little late for out tastes. We did get to keep one long standing tradition which was eating fondue on Christmas Eve. And I have to say I think it was better in Switzerland for obvious reasons.
We also participated in the new years nordic walking evening on Baldegg. The event was a 5km candle lit trail followed by a pasta dinner. Most of the hike was in the pitch black forest with the trail lit by some 1000 candles according to my calculations. It took a good 15 minutes to get used to walking in the complete darkness as the candles just didn’t have the power needed to illuminate much of the trail at all. My sister-in-law described it like stumbling 5km for the bathroom in the middle of the night. A perfect description.
Our family will be here for another 2 weeks or so. That is beautiful in a sense that we will have 3 extra babysitters around, and that they will have a chance to spend so much time with the newest member of the family.