Christmas at the Rise

I have just come back from one of those occasions we are sometimes lucky enough to attend that remind us that we have family about, even when we are a long way away from our own. 'Christmas at the Rise' has become a bit of an ISKL tradition. A big weekend before the Christmas vacation party, for the children of course! Unlike those living in their home countries expat kids don't necessarily get to sit on Santa's knee and get a gift - this is the chance for it to happen.
So on a monsoony Sunday afternoon about 50 ISKL faculty kids, their parents and the eternal kids like myself all got together for a pot luck turkey dinner around the pool. The afternoon was organised madness with the older kids running around in the rain playing soccer, and the younger ones simply running around our feet. All of course waiting for the arrival of Santa. Santa finally arrives with parcels and excitement - and quickly nabs a beer, much to the pride of one Aussie father who's Santa's helper daughter is able to put the stubbie into a cooler wrap when others can't. What follows is not that different than it would be at home - laughter, jokes, young kids screaming when they sit on Santa's lap, wolf whistles when mum sits on Santa's lap with them. It was however just the reminder that I do have a big family of people here that I sometimes tend to take for granted.
Now, I'm back at home, cursing the humidity in the air that has caused my pavola made for tomorrow to turn into a sticky goop of marshmallow. At least most people don't know what it is supposed to be like anyway!