Look at what happened to our hallway: Thanks to the floor decorating competition, it looks like Christmas all around! Admitted, I can’t take any credit for the way our hallway looks now, but I like it all the same! Every year, the foreign faculty housing has a floor decorating competition for the foreign faculty. While some years, having the competition doesn’t mean much at all, in other years, my colleagues outdo themselves. This year, they turned our hallway into a winter wonderland. And then, after the walk through the chilly snow scenery, you’ll end up right here: By a cozy fire where you can shake off that winter chill. I just wish, there was a little more reality to this … Anyways, I’ll keep you posted with what happened in the other hallways.

  It’s up again. The Christmas tree that is. Today, when I crossed the square, I saw it. After years of being around campus, I still haven’t quite decided yet whether I think it’s just a really bad tree, or flat-out ugly! But at least it’s a tree. A very artificial looking, skeleton like tree. And of course, the students are staying true to their tradition – within the hour of setting up the tree, they start adorning it with little notes of good wishes. Soon, the bottom part of the tree will be covered with them. But then, I think a tree full of wishes is better than a bare tree – even though both don’t really have much in common with a real Christmas tree! But who cares about such things as these here!? At least we have something like a tree. And with some imagination, it might even be considered a Christmas tree!