Being the last week before Christmas break, things has been pretty relaxed around school. We haven’t really been teaching this week since we have been finishing up inputting our grades into the catalogs, testing, and just hanging out with our students. Yesterday classes were let out at noon so everyone could partake in the caroling contest the school put on at the casa de cultura (house of culture). Most of the classes participated and the carols ranged from very traditional songs that dated back who knows how long to some more modern Romania/French/English collaborations. It was a really great event and in a way made me really homesick. It made me miss all my friends and family back home and I even had to choke back the tears a few times. Below are some videos of the students singing. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to get a video of either of my 11th grade classes I teach.
After all of the performances and while the judges deliberated as to who the winner was, a few of the really good singers came on stage. The first video is one of my 12B students whom I tutor, Emanuela. Her voice is amazing and the first time i heard her sing in my class, she sang Ave Maria and blew me away.
We (the teachers) ended the day in a classroom where we gathered to celebrate the holiday by enjoying some snacks, homemade wine, and traditional Romanian carols. It was beautiful to hear everyone singing and the music teacher playing his violin and another on the guitar. I am so grateful to experience all of these great traditions and its so nice to see the true spirit of Christmas. Without all of the marketing and commercialization. Here, in the tiny town of Singeorz-Bai, in the middle of the mountains in Romania, the true meaning of Christmas still exists. Cherishing the time spent with friends and family, not material things such as presents.
Jo in Ro 
Super. Are you trying to make all your recipients fall in love with your town?
Nice show:D