Christmas is fast approaching. Tomorrow is the first Sunday of Advent already, and this year I have my own very first: My first real advent wreath in China. Well, not a wreath, really. But it is this advent thingy that can hold four candles, so it counts as advent wreath, I guess.

In the last couple of years, I always just arranged some candles with some simple Christmas decoration on my coffee table, but this year it’s the real deal! My mom brought it from Germany where she had bought it at the end of last year’s Christmas season at my request. (Yep, did I ever mention that you learn to become very patient here in China?) Well, anyway, I finally have one.

And since I had no candles to go with it, this morning’s main project was to hop on the shopping bus to the city and find some (there are no real candles anywhere here in town; Chinese people don’t usually use candles.) However, finding them isn’t actually the challenge, since I had an idea where to look. The real problem was: getting them home safely. With all the pushing that happens when people try to get on the bus, my candles barely made it, and only one survived the trip without a major dent. So, the moral of this story: You can’t have both – a beautiful advent wreath AND perfect candles. And since that’s the case, I’d rather go for the advent wreath!

Well then, happy 1. Advent tomorrow everyone!