Christmas in the Outback

At the beginning of Voss’s journey into the wilderness, he and his team enter the Christmas season. Most of his companions on this journey were intent on taking the day off and celebrating in what small ways that they could. So they took the time off, ate one of their sheep and read the Christmas service.

I really liked this part of the novel and felt that this scene reflected what many of us here at the Chateau are feeling. We are also a mixed, displaced group of people wanting to keep some familiarity. Just last week we held a mid-November Halloween party. Pumpkins were found and carved, we were very kindly brought some Halloween candy, and we celebrated. Next week we will be having a Thanksgiving dinner together, probably still unconventional, yet comforting.

This is a very amusing concept to me. Being a group such as ourselves in a place like France has shown so many cultural contrasts. I love our loyalty to home at times like these ones.

-Maria