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Christmas Eve



All I knew about Christmas was Kevin Mcallister, protecting his house in Chicago, or protecting his life in his uncle's in New York. I've always watched the Home Alone movies with the same joy, and I never got bored even though I knew the whole scenario. Yet something about Home Alone and the way that the director captured Kevin's love for Christmas and Christmas trees have always touched something in me.  I had a dream of "living" Christmas, maybe not exactly like Kevin, but I wanted to have my own experience that I can live and enjoy every moment of. I wanted to stop reading the greetings that people tweeted on Twitter, or posted on Facebook. I wanted to be the one who did those things. I wanted to write greeting cards, buy presents, eat candy canes that are not sold or produced in Saudi Arabia, and I wanted to enjoy this festive holiday just the way we enjoy and celebrate Eid. 

It amazes me how dreams can come true, because once I believed that something great is coming, my beliefs came true. Here I am, living, celebrating, and enjoying Christmas. I wrote greeting cards, bought presents, and ate candy canes!  I watched Home Alone with my host family and laughed at my eight-year-old self that was jumping up and down inside of me, because I knew that I made it. I reached the point where I can tell myself that dreaming for years have paid off.  This is Christmas Eve and I can't wait for tomorrow. 

We had all the gifts ready and under the tree by this morning, and we had a great Christmas Eve dinner that consisted of a lot of delicious food.  The whole atmosphere had a happy vibe, because what would be better than being around a family that loves and cares for one another?  What's better than being in a warm house wearing proper clothes in this cold weather?  What's better than appreciating everything that you have during one whole month and knowing that you're loved by great people who will always be there for you?  Nothing can top this eve during my stay here, because I can see the love everywhere as all the houses around me light with different lights from the outside, and warm love from the inside.

Tomorrow is finally Christmas Day. I don't know what is going to happen to my eight-year-old self, but I'm very positive that living this whole experience is overwhelming and enough to me. 

Happy Christmas Eve! 

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