Christmas – such a wonderful time. It’s a magnificent celebration to commemorate the birth of Jesus.

Back in the United States, Christmas for me starts right after my sisters’ birthday on Dec. 1. We go to a tree farm, choose our Christmas tree and decorate it together. We place homemade ornaments we made through the school years alongside ornaments we collected during our military moves. Lots of memories and conversations follow.

Mailing Christmas cards and baking cookies also brings Christmas joy. Being together as a family makes the holiday special.

So, being an exchange student at this time of year can cause a little homesickness. During my Christmas here in Poland, there are quite a few times when I stop and wish that my family were here to share the sights and food. It’s hard to be in a different country, celebrating with an entirely different family than the one you have grown up in.

Fortunately, I have bonded with my host family. They have taken me in as a daughter. I am really happy to be here with them, and they have a special place in my heart.

Celebrating Christmas in a different country, with a new family, brings different traditions.

Here in Europe, it all starts at the beginning of December.

Christmas in Germany

On a chilly day in Germany, I had the chance to see this wonderful country during the Christmas season. Iwona, my Polish teacher, invited my host mother, sister and me to join her and her travel group on a visit to Berlin for a day.

This trip stood out more than my first visit to Berlin because of all the celebrating going on for Christmas and St. Nicholas Day, held on Dec. 6 in Germany and Poland.

My eyes opened wide once I saw the towering structure of the Fern-sehturm, a tall television tower accompanied by a huge Ferris wheel. A fair near the tower had a merry-go-round and game booths. It looked like a traveling carnival.

By the canal were two large ornaments standing 7 or 8 feet tall. Tour-ists took pictures of and by them.

Past the canal was my first sight of a European Christmas market. It was a jaw-dropping sight.

More than 50 stalls were in view and there were even more behind the buildings.

These small stalls with triangular roofs were decorated with the same Christmas lights but each supplied different, and wonderful, holiday merchandise.

My eyes quickly picked out the Russian stacker dolls and nutcrackers.

The smell of sauerkraut filled the air, but then as I passed the roasted nut cart, the scent of caramelized nuts and almonds filled my nose.

At Brandenburg Gate

Our next stop was at the famed Brandenburg Gate, which had the biggest Christmas tree I’ve ever seen – taller than a three-story house. It was beautifully decorated with flat, colorful, wooden carved ornaments.

At night, our group went to the Potsdamer Platz Market (Weihnachtsmarkt). There were at least four Christmas markets spread across the city.

I wouldn’t even call it a market; it was more like a festival. Everything was illuminated at night, making it more grand. It hit me then that I was actually in Europe for Christmas.

There were more than 100 stands and carts filled with handcrafted baskets, toys and Christmas ornaments made from pottery and beeswax. There were rugs, tablecloths and items from all cultures and nationalities for sale.

I was expecting Christmas folk music everywhere, but I heard English carols. I honestly heard more English-speaking people than I did German. That just goes to show that this place was a major tourist area.

At festivals like these, warmed red wine is the popular choice. The aromas from gingerbread and candy apples gave off a very sweet scent and sweet taste, too.

I picked up a nutcracker ornament, a Russian stacker doll and a Berlin pin for my Rotary blazer as memorabilia. I also bought a candy apple and some German sweets for the way home.

To get to the bus, we walked through one of the larger malls in Berlin. Once again, the decorations did not disappoint. Throughout the mall, it seemed like golden lights were raining from the ceiling.

On the way home, we got to the stretch of road that leads to the Brandenburg Gate but decided to drive the opposite way. The view was astonishing. Between the two roads were trees covered in gleaming lights.

Berlin was lit up that night. It left an imprint in my mind that I will be reminded of every Christmas throughout the rest of my life.



Kirsten Rafinski, a Westmont Hilltop junior, is spending this school year in Poland through the Rotary Youth Exchange. You can

follow her experiences in The Tribune-Democrat and at www.kirsten2011.wordpress.com.