Holidays... : One Season in Paris

I can't believe it! I looked at the date today and it's the 15th of December! It's winter time! From autumn to winter, it's been four months since I came to Paris! I seem to be studying most of the time and I haven't had time to visit most of the places in Paris! Where has all my time gone to?

I think I know... 6 hours of classes, 3 hours of main meals, 30 minutes of socializing, 1 hour of watching movie, 1 hour of skype, 1 hour of study... that doesn't leave much time for leisure reading. Oh... I miss reading and writing.

Luckily, it's Christmas and New Year! Having two weeks of holidays really helps! I have toured Eastern Europe and visited so many Christmas markets that I can roughly know what to expect in each. Hot spiced wine, crêpes with nutella and bananas, and the hot rolling cinnamon buns, fresh from the grill pit!

Snow is therapeutic too! I love snow! Even if I don't ski or snowboard. I just love to see them everywhere! Icicles on roof tops, tree leaves, fresh snow, untrodden snow... Oh my... I love its pure, white, soft, and fresh feeling! Even glaciers from afar and frozen lakes are therapeutic.

Ahh.. so this is what I 'suffered' for. Work hard, play hard. When was the last time I took my time out of my job to play really hard? As far as I remember, I always had work at the back of my mind whenever I was playing since I started working. This is the first time I get to really release myself fully and play without guilt or loss of conscience whatsover. Oh my! What a wonderful feeling this is!

Revelation: This, is what I worked for!

Is it worth it? Has the fight been worth it? And the struggles? The tears, the sweat, the pain and perhaps even a little blood?

At this moment, as I stand on the mountain top of Fisherman's Bastille in Budapest, in the square of the Queen's Palace in Prague, in the delightful Christmas market in Vienna with cute chocolaterie and colourful, sweet delicious pastries and delicacies... I am thinking... "Oh Wow! This is so worth it! When I return to work, I will work with even more fervency. But I will do it with a difference this time. I will make sure I reach at 8am and return by 5pm. I will leave work in the office and take none of it back home. I will make sure I will take the full number of days of annual leave that I am entitled to and enjoy it to restore balance to my life, which I need. I am human. I am not a machine. I need rest. I love myself too much to let all these precious lessons go to waste. Maintaining work-life balance is a basic human right. It should not be violated. Even when deadlines are imposed."

This holiday around Europe has been therapeutic. I never thought or even knew that I needed it, until I took it.

Conclusion: Everybody needs a break. Including me.

It's a wonderful Christmas season indeed! It's a real Christmas this year!

Happy New Year everybody!!!!!!!!