The Girl from South Misses the Sun
My mom's grandparents are from the southern parts of Russia. They moved to Moscow for career purposes and stayed there. However, they never came to like Moscow. I was brought up with the stories of cherry and apricot trees, almonds and hospitality. And of course, the warmth of relationships between people.
When the half of your family comes from Georgia (the former USSR), one starts to understand the depth of human relationships. I must confess I deeply love Georgians and Armenians. Their homes are the outmost examples of family, love and friensdship. Even if you enter the house of a person you don't know at all, you immediately feel at home. You feel that all their lives these people were waiting for you (and that is why they have so much food cooked!)
Not only this: they know how to celebrate and how to be serious, how to laugh and how to cry, and to love the life no matter what.
...
When I came to Canada, it was very difficult for me to get used to the relationships between people. I felt they were not deep enough. I felt that friendship should go beyond - hi how are you, haven't seen you for long, let's meet for lunch. I often felt cold not because of the weather, but because people around me were cold. I deeply missed the warmth and the sun, and the sincere smiles and most importantly the depth the friendship can take.
Then I started to understand that in many cases people are just afraid to show the warm side of them. They are not used to. They can be warm and wonderful, but I have to take the first step.
Now, when we celebrate the Festival of Sukkot, http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/holiday5.html
the season when we are supposed to rejoice, I do hope that you like me will rejoice with your family and friends, that your celebrations will be full of southern warmth rather than northern appropriateness.
After all, life is not all about suffering. Life is full of joy and happiness, and our goal is celebrate them in every single step we take.
Chag Sukkot Sameach from Leah.