O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum

Joy put the Christmas tree up while the rest of us were teaching last night. I was a little disappointed that I didn't get to help, but at least there were still a few Christmas ornaments left to be hung when my last class of the day was over. I love having the Christmas tree up at school. It's immediately in the entry way (and right in front of Joy's desk), so it's a cheerful welcome to the school. It makes the kids happy, too. Catherine, Grace, Joy, and I took some pictures in front of the tree tonight after all the kids had gone home.I'm not sure why we're doing this with our hands. It was Joy's idea. I told her I thought it was funny and that I would tell everyone I know that this is how Koreans smile for photos. That made everyone laugh.I love having the Christmas tree up at school. I know there are a gazillion versions and verses to the song, but this is the one that's stuck in my head these days:

O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum!
Du kannst mir sehr gefallen!
Wie oft hat nicht zur Weihnachtszeit
Ein Baum von dir mich hoch erfreut!
O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum!
Du kannst mir sehr gefallen!

I think one of the reasons I'm so happy to have the Christmas tree up is that it's a visible reminder that very soon I'll be in Chicago celebrating Christmas with my family. I bought my plane ticket a month ago, but Joy just helped me make my seat assignments today. I'm flying nonstop and have a window seat. Oh yeah.

And for a slight aside that only my family will understand, I also have Uncle Tuney's choir singing "Hurry home for Christmas. Don't stop (stop) until you get there. Yeah." stuck in my head.