Today is Christmas eve. We don’t really have any Christmas feeling here, since Christmas is not celebrated here. The stores do have Christmas decorations, christmas trees and all kind of useless stuff. So, yes, if you want to have the commercial Christmas here you can.
We are not really into buying each other Christmas presents, but this time I do have a list of things I want and we will see if my Mr will buy them to me. The first thing on my list is a car. I was thinking of a Pathfinder, Pajero or a Hummer. Then I want a sea kayak and a stand up paddle board. I won’t get them today, because we do not have time to go to a store and buy them. Today we are moving into our new apartment on the Pearl. Or at least I will start to move some stuff there today. Currently we are staying in a hotel and we are really glad that we can get out of here. Hotels just makes me go crazy. Getting the keys to the apartment on Christmas eve is actually the best Christmas gift we can think of.
Tonight we will also celebrate Christmas eve with the Finnish community here in Doha. Last Saturday several Finnish women got together and we made Finnish pastries “karjalanpiirakka”.
Finnish Christmas songs, Finnish specialities to eat. What more can you ask for to make Christmas 2012 to an unforgettable moment. Maybe even Santa will pass by….
Pia Sundstedt 
I wish you all the best for Christmas and your future in Doha! Though I don’t get why someone would like to have a Hummer (fuel-eater) at all, I hope that you get something “off the list” tonight and have a good celebration without getting homesick.