It has been some time since my last blog. The latest writing assignment – part of my master’s degree in Creative Writing – kept me busy in November. And now I’m caught up with some work at the office to finish before the holidays.

I’m sure you’ve heard it a million times already! ‘This time of year is full of joy‘ Here I am confirming this statement, and the feelings that fill my heart are propelling me to share a piece of my world.

In 2017, I moved to Hamburg, Germany, from my homeland, Jordan. This is how I see the city: if Hamburg were an animal, it would be a swan; if it were a human, it would be Grace Kelly. A very clean, sophisticated, and calm city with amazing cityscapes. Two wide rivers, a seaport, old churches, and a lot of forests and creeks.

The first picture at the top is one I took last month; a narrow pathway in the forest near my apartment leading to a small area with some local shops. In autumn, fallen tree leaves pave the path. I especially love the rustling sound of the dry leaves as I walk.

My neighbourhood is a very quiet one, away from the buzz of the city. In contrast, I work in one of the busiest areas in Hamburg, not far from the seaport. I really like this polarity, which allows me to also experience a balance between the masculine and feminine energies of the city.

Here are other photos I took this year, and some pictures from the district in which I work.

The second picture at the top is one I took in a Christmas market. It’s a type of fried dumplings coated in icing sugar – called Schmalzkuchen in German. They’re my absolute favourite snack that I buy every time I go to one of the Christmas markets here. Warm, soft, and sweet. Exactly what you need to beat the freezing temperatures.

As a Muslim, I don’t celebrate Christmas at home, but I love the city’s atmosphere. You might think it’s weird or creepy, but I love watching people have a good time. I love the expressions of happiness on their faces as they share special moments with loved ones. Every holiday season, I plug myself into the joyous energy as much as I can.

Germany has amazing and very unique Christmas markets, but because my area is not very populated, our market is there only for one weekend. Still, it was very nice with bonfires, warm drinks, and lots of happy children playing.

The last photo of the stuffed octopus is one from my bedroom. The window looks out over a tiny park right next to our apartment building. The scene is particularly beautiful in summer and in full snow.

But the focus of the picture is actually my stuffed animal – Octavius. I’ve had him for 16 years now. It was a gift from my family right before I left Jordan in 2007 to study translation at Durham University, England.

I asked my sister and nieces this morning which stuffed animal was their favourite and what they named it. They came up with cute stories of their favourite toys, who bought them, and why they like them so much.

It’s really heart-warming how simple questions can bring us humans closer together and help us understand each other more. Creating genuine connections with the people who matter to me has been central in my life this year, and I hope next year will bring me more opportunities to strengthen my ties with the people I love.

Here are a few pictures of the stuffed toys my nieces shared.

Closing this post with a lot of gratitude to you for taking the time to read this and allowing a piece of me to enter your life.

May your heart be filled with joy and tranquillity this Christmas; may you look into the eyes of your dearest people and see glimmers of love and hope; may your eyes be filled with tears of gratitude and serenity as you welcome the new year.

❤️