My December

   Dear diary,

   My December's been crazy so far: Advent calendars to open, tasks to accomplish, work in the kindergarten, prepare for an exam and a long trip to Bucharest. I felt taken away in a fast carousel that I could barely keep up with. I had moments (still do) when I wished I could have paused time so that I could have enjoyed every day left till Christmas because each year I get the feeling that time passes too fast in December. 

    So I went to Bucharest:) It's been a trip that came at the perfect moment cos I've never seen it in December. Never seen its lights, its fairs, its gifts and treasures. And you know how much I love Christmas and traveling.

   At first I had to solve the exam thingie. So I took my friend and tried to find an address in a huge city I didn't know. What did I do? I asked around. Cos Google maps drops my phone battery like crazy. The exam experience was way better than I anticipated. Those people really liked what I was telling them. They were smiling and enjoying it and we had such a pleasant conversation. You know how oral exams are. You go out and people ask you: "How was it?" and then you say "Okay, I guess." I told them "It was GREAT!" while grinning. How many people do that?

   Then, after checking the Must Do thing in the big city, there came visiting my dear friends and a planned journey to see the Christmas lights. But somewhere among all those I got time to observe and think. Bucharest seems to have a completely different culture than Cluj. They have a funny accent, they react and behave differently, they are... a different species. And as much as I loved riding the subway it was sooo weird to get confused every time I had to change it. No worries, Bucharest people looked just as confused. How weird is that? So I decided. I wouldn't move to the capital even if I got a big, fat salary. I love my dear city. It's easy, comfy and it has everything I need in it. Including family, friends, boyfriend, dream job and everything else. 

   On the other hand, Bucharest had awesome things as well: wonderful friends, amazing Christmas lights, yummy fairs and a lot of experiences waiting to be lived. I bought the cheapest books, the cutest decorations and I received the best Advent calendar! Not to mention the happy tears of listening to a friend playing the piano on notes of Debussy or singing Adele. 

   It was a perfect experience: the sound of the train, scary people, cute people, warm people, helpful people, crowds everywhere, lights, lights, lights, mulled wine, comfy dizziness, Advent, happy tears, life stories on the train. It was my December or at least the first half of it:) 

Day 103. A Christmas to remember

   Every year I change the color of my Christmas tree. I like to play this little game and I already know what color  my NEXT year's tree is gonna be. But enough about future.

   I donno about you, but this year I invested in my Christmas tree. I have a brand new one and tons of ornaments and Christmas decorations (a lot of my salary went that way BUT I'm happy about it:D) and today I got to evaluate this year's idea: a Christmas tree in purple and gold:) All I can say after seeing the result is that I'm completely satisfied:) It actually exceeds my expectations! 
  I'm a kid all over again but in the same time I feel like a grown up always reasoning with the help of logic. I do love to decorate the Christmas tree but now it's not only about the magic of doing that, it's also about a competition with myself regarding how it's gonna look like and this involved a LOT of planning:) Maybe all this "being hired" thing has its saying:) 
   So theoretically this year's gonna be my first Christmas as a "grown up" since I started working. And I know for sure it's gonna be a Christmas to remember:)

P.S. Closer look of the tree because I know you wonder;)

Day 94. Let it snow

     Today I stood quietly behind the window and I gazed at the amazing spectacle outside. My eyes went wider and wider with joy while I was saying "This is soooo pretty! Just the way it used to be! I wish it would last til Christmas." 

   I was so excited by the snow that I even wanted to decorate the fir tree today... and then I changed my mind. I remembered I want that time to be as magical as it was every year and not just a "let's get it over with and look at how pretty it is for weeks until Christmas is here" thing. So I settled for staring at the decorations from time to time. Nevertheless, I can't wait for 15 more days to pass. Or not. I really enjoy these days. These days right before it. The moments when I plan the gifts for my loved ones while listening to carols, the moments when I take the bus home and I see the Christmas lights in the entire city and I daydream about Christmas. These days are magical. And snow just makes them perfect.  
   Now I know: 2012 was my best year ever and I can only thank God for His support and unconditional love:) He really is awesome:)

Day 82. It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas

   Now I really have the feeling everything begins to look like Christmas around me. The kindergarten's halls are all packed with beautiful Christmas trees, lights and decorations and my office is now READY for Christmas:) 

   I worked very hard and it took a while until I was happy with the result, but now I am really proud:) I can't wait for snow to fall over the city like in a beautiful snow globe:) 

   For now, my office is my cozy, wintery retreat and I'm loving it:) I like the fact that problems fade away there and I hope kids will enjoy it too:) 

Closer look of the Christmas tree:)

Day 74. Lack of sleep

   I don't know about you but my days of being a night bird are coming to an end since I started working. I'm also behind with my TV Shows and reading is a delicacy only for bus time.

   Even though, these couple weeks I had to work late and also get up early so you can figure out how happy I was in the morning. Today was one of those mornings. But this time I tried to think positive and take out the benefits of these things: being able to help brings you more satisfaction than one or two more hours of sleep, and in the end, this situation is temporary. 

   But... I have to admit. I think I need a vacation. I can't wait for Christmas holidays to be here already:) New, huge Christmas tree and more decorations arrived in my house today! Yaaaay!!! Let it snow!:)

Day 70. Getting ready

   This morning, dear Autumn showed me she's getting ready. You know how women are. You have to wait a lot till they're ready. But I think Autumn is a nice lady and she'll be ready soon. Ready to hand over the world to her sister, Winter. 

   Oh, dear, I can't wait to meet Winter. I can't wait for Christmas to be here. Happy, happy, joy, joy, there are only 39 days left!!!:D I bought lots of decorations for my office and I can't wait to use them:) Call me crazy, but my inner child is bursting with joy:)