This was my first Christmas spent away from home. It was certainly different from all of my other Christmases - no carol singing, no hot chocolate, and no mass production of cookies; instead there was raclette, schnapps, and homemade jam. And I couldn't have asked for better hosts. There was snow on Christmas Day, as well as warm drinks, food, and hugs. And, my mother sent me a kleiner Weinachtsbaum, which was a lovely addition to the family atmosphere.
