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| Charlottenburg Christmas Market, Berlin |
As the holidays approach it's easy to fall into a kind of zombie mode when living abroad. Being single and alone while your teammates plan their 2 days off with family can be a difficult time as a foreigner. While occasionally some athletes have the luck to of a week off and enough time to jet home for a whirlwind trip to America, the reality for most athletes overseas is a makeshift family of other misfits with nowhere to go. Christmas has been such a unique experience every year I've spent in Europe. My first year was spent with my one Canadian teammate, crochet, Christmas movies and a lot of Skype. This was my first Christmas without my family and it was hard. When you become used to having your family with you for every holiday it becomes normal. It's easy to forget how lucky you are to have people you love around you. The last five years have made me appreciate my time with my loved ones more than ever before. I have experienced many different Christmases in my time abroad. Starting from my first Christmas in Berlin to a rushed surprise for my mom at 1am during a snow storm in Toronto. The next year me and an old Kentucky teammate rented an apartment as lost Christmas loners in Brussles to make our own family and create some cheer with spiced wine and new friends. While every year the magic of the holiday season warms my heart nothing has made me more thankful than having my parents arrive to spend Christmas in Poland with me.
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| Mom and dad Torun |
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| Brussels Christmas 2014 |
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| Lola the dog home for Christmas 2015 |
Yes I know, doesn't seem like a big deal for them to miss Christmas at home when Sarah and Adam are in China. For my parents to leave our friends and family at this time is actually huge. Although I am forever grateful for their presence it's hard not to think about our traditions at home. We will miss Christmas eve spent with my Godparents, Russ and Donna. We won't take on my Zia and cousins in a game of cranium and won't have the chance to crash the Mota family party or fondue night at the Morton's. Yes, my parents have me to celebrate with but the sacrifice of the holiday traditions and sleeping on a pull out couch is not a small thing to me. While it is part of my job and a small sacrifice for me to play the sport I love, it isn't required for my parents. The love of my family and friends, especially my parents for coming, makes this time of year a little more special and has made my heart grow two sizes this Christmas, like the Grinch regaining his Christmas spirit from the Whos.
