Believe it or not, the Irish have been celebrating Christmas since late November. (Well, if they’re not “celebrating,” they’re certainly eager to start). This is obviously a big change from home, since we have Thanksgiving to break up the slog between Halloween and Christmas. So it was a bit odd for me that Cork decided to throw a Christmas parade on November 15th:

It was actually the first annual “Corkmas” parade, so now I can say I was part of Cork’s history. Kind of.

Usually, it’s easy for me to get into the Holiday spirit. Christmas is my favorite holiday- and not just because of the whole presents thing. Christmas, for me, makes me feel nostalgic for when this time of the year had a sort of magical feel. There’s something special about it that brings family, friends, and even strangers together. But for some weird reason that I can’t put my finger on… it doesn’t exactly feel like the Holiday Season here in Cork.

I’m not used to being away from home during this time of year, so maybe it’s that. It’s not for a lack of trying. The city itself is very merry, lit up on every block, a Christmas tree on every other corner in the city center.

I think it also has something to do with the fact that I’m not typically still doing school work at this time of the year. (Which, I am thankfully almost done with. I submitted my fourth- and final- paper yesterday and only have one exam left next week!)

All of this to say, it’s difficult to get into the Holiday Season mindset away from home. A lot of my friends here have expressed a similar sentiment. I guess there is something to be said about the notion of being home for the holidays.

And I only have about another week here in Cork, so I think seeing all the holiday decorations also kind of signals an end to my study abroad experience. It is almost unfathomable to think that I’ve been in Cork since early September- it sometimes feels like I’ve just gotten here. I suppose the Holiday Season is kind of a physical reminder that my time abroad is winding down, which obviously makes me sad. All good things must come to an end. But I still have some time in Cork, a city I have truly grown to love.