Related post.

Arriving at our office building at 5:45, every one looked at each other blearily. Laughing and talking a bit nervously we stood and waited for the bus that would take us to the airport. I am not a morning person so I sort of stood to the side nursing a coffee, taking a scanning video of the crowd, part of it but not quite.

The bus arrived and everyone packed in, noting the absence of our Swedish colleagues (was this a hint?) Indeed it was! We arrived at the airport and checked in: we were going to Luleå, Sweden. The flight there was filled with sleepy yawns, but the relaxed camaraderie of people sitting next to each other that actually know one another. (Very different from sitting next to the sweaty stranger who wants to talk about their upcoming family reunion and their mother's pie or arrogant business person that needs to tell you all about the deals they have closed recently --- although I must admit I like these stories too... but not too early in the morning.)

On getting near to Luleå we quickly realized that there was a dense snow storm ... so we circled the field for about 20 minutes with the countdown to landing on the monitor varying from 4 minutes to 10 minutes and then back to 4 again. We landed in the middle of the most beautiful snow storm, windy and blustery but not cold, the air fresh.

After arriving at the hotel we were quickly invited for "drinks" outdoors in a park across the street from the hotel. Yes. In the middle of the snow storm and driving wind, we stood around and networked, drinking a sweet spiced hot wine and huddling together. Actually, it was great. I missed snow. I missed that coldness that makes you alert and happy and joyous.

OK> I'm writing too much so let me summarize:

• a strange event involving driving in the snow (since I have never done this the entire time I grew up in Canada (?!). I think that Canadians are missing on a great market: driving foreigners around in the snow, as an event that people pay to do),
  
  
• wonderful dinner with speeches spoken while standing on top of chairs each more outrageous than the last somehow becoming a tag team game,
  
  
• talking to new colleagues I had never met before but who surprised and delighted me with their diversity, intelligence and humour,
  
  
• dancing in a local club with colleagues I know and love and who pleased me with their happy little kid faces as they danced uninhibitedly (the club has a local nickname: the chlamydia club... but given that we were there with colleagues this was not a deterrent),
  
  
• a dramatic last dance involving lots of overposing and spinning,
  
  
• lingering in the lobby of the hotel with old and new friends (no longer just colleagues) not wanting it to end but aware of our full day to come, glancing at watches but not wanting to be responsible,
  
  
• a painful wakeup on Friday morning after just a few hours sleep and having used up all 8 of my "drink credits",
  
  
• everyone sitting in the lobby blinking at each other silently and hoping no one would be loud for at least a while,
  
  
• transport to a frozen lake and dressing up in big skidoo suits, everyone looking like oversized children and smiling in the joy of being warm on a cold snowy gorgeous day with the swedish sun remaining low on the horizon for its brief 6 hours,
  
  
• going on a dog sled ride through a winter wonderland and keeping each other warm on long sleds, the dogs barking eagerly, and the hangover miraculously disappearing in happiness, burning cold cheeks and laughter,
  
  
• walking through snow laden forests with the trunks bent over double and aiming branches at colleagues who end up with snow covered faces (don't worry, I got as good as I gave),
  
  
• skidooing through the woods and being surprised (after the dogsledding) how unpleasant the smell of the burning gasoline is but loving the rush,
  
  
• letting go and falling backwards into the snow then making snow angels while a kettle sits on a wood fire on the snow awaiting tea,
  
  
• laughing while watching polite colleagues take turns and throw snowballs at each other when the recipient is prepared (much better to barrage, but I wasn't going to tell them this)
  
  
• wishing we could stay and make forts and just stay there instead of...
  
  
• back to the airport, everyone sleepy and happy and gentled by the days, and then
  
  
• sitting in the airplane with an equally silly colleague, having wine bottle races (there is an explanation but too difficult to describe, not a drinking game but something involving a tilted tray), pretending we are in a roller coaster when we hit a patch of turbulence (whoooohooo), and making faces every time someone attempts to take a serious picture, and generally having the most fun on a plane I have ever had (usually I'm bored, impatient and uncomfortable.)

So. No need for cynicism or an unpleasant debrief.

It was wonderful. I had a fantastic time and discovered with joy how sweet, smart, and fun my colleagues are. Perhaps the weekend was not extreme but it was great.

There are times when I really fall in love with the people that I meet (not in a romantic way but really in a joyous "aren't you cool, I wish I knew you better, do you want to be my friend" kind of way) and this was one of those times. I'm glad I have a weekend to recover.

If I actually get to editing the videos I took, I will attempt to put something non-incriminating up.

Labels: absurd holiday fun, beauty in unexpected places, being alive, dancing, delightful, there are beautiful unique and quirky people in the world

What I learned about German Christmas Markets:

1. When they offer you a little something extra in your Gluhwein, accept. You can even accept more than once. It's polite.
   
   
2. Sausages which are approximately 5x the length of the bun in which they are served are fun. Especially if you are really fond of mustard and the crowds leave little room for manoeuvring.
   
   
3. People spontaneously sing together on the street and add their own sound effects, which is absolutely fabulous. If you are in the right frame of mind, you will find yourself joining in even if you have no idea what the song is. This will be a curiously and wonderfully magic moment. (yaaayaaayayaaaa, heeey heeey heey hey!)
   
   
4. There is a place in the world where santa hats with accompanying antlers and flashing lights are not a fashion statement, but a prerequisite for fitting in.
   
   
5. There is more excellent german food than you might think, however, after "passing by" the crepes with nutella, spetzle with cheese, kartoffel, hot chocolate with shots of rum, strudel of every possible variation, candy apples and flavored nuts, you may find yourself slowing down a little bit...
   
   
6. Despite the fact that you have slowed down, two hours later the small local tavern looks really appealing as does the beer. Those visiting with you surprisingly all agree. You smile and nod at each other after laughing loudly about something inane.
   
   
7. Despite the fact that a Christmas Market *seems* to be the perfect place to find a santa candle (for the ritualistic melting of the over-sized cultural icon) none are to be found. Someone out there must be protecting you from your worst impulses.
   
   
8. After a while your vivid imagination will make you think inappropriate thoughts about the merry go round, such as the strangeness of children riding on the backs of strange oversized my-little-pony type figures in circles and the little boy who is enjoying his imagination much too much while whipping his particular horse, and this will (quite naturally) lead you to wonder how the people running the merry go round would react if you showed up in a cat woman outfit and straddled one of the happy little horses. Perhaps the little boy would reconsider his deviance. (I apologize for this... it was subconscious and somehow at the time very very funny.)
   
   
9. The next day, over breakfast with plenty of coffee, you all will wonder why your head feels all stuffy, and decide the pillows in the hotel are to blame.
   
   
10. You can find THE James Last Christmas album (now CD) of your childhood holiday memories!!! You will insist on listening to this CD at least twice over the course of the 4 hour car ride home. You will sing along or at the very least produce riveting sound effect accompaniment. This will make you ridiculously happy and you will grin and bop along like a very silly child. If the antler's fit... Your friends who love you will join in. They are the best.
    
    

Some other stuff:

Labels: absurd holiday fun, christmas, culture