Secret Santa which was not a secret for me

Secret Santa has almost become a must tradition at colleges and workplaces during the Christmas season. Even though I’m lecturing at the college, I also act like a student sometime since my undergraduate personality dominates some times. But everyone becomes a bit childish during holiday seasons. So all of our academic staff was very excited about decorating the college and making plans to celebrate xmas. One even that we planned was secret santa and I was given the task of organizing it even though the only thing I had to do was writing names on chits and making people choose one from them. secret santa was only limited to the permanent academic staff because it was hard to gather the visiting lectures and program coordinators from other branches. Our permanent staff were only seven including the manager, so we are a very close-knit family.

We drew lots one week before the planned date for secret santa, but alas, I ended up knowing and guessing who got whom to give presents. Even though it was me who made others select a name, I was not aware at first who got whom. However, as the time passes, one by one came to me ask me for some suggestions to gifts revealing the person that they got and asking me not to reveal it. But what they didn’t know was that, he/ she was the not the only one who seeked my suggestions for gifts. Since three to four people asked for my opinion, I ended up knowing who got whom for secret santa and it was not hard to guess the rest since there are only 7 of us. So secret santa was not a secret for me.

The one I received to give a present is someone I knew for years since she was an assistant lecturer for me in uni before she started working here. So I knew her personality and it wasn’t hard to find a gift for her. Yet, I couldn’t pack the gift at the boarding since I didn’t have any sellotape, so I had to take it to the office. I was supposed have an individual IELTS speaking preparation with a student and he helped me to cover the gift and warn me when she came near my desk. I didn’t have much time since I had to start my class, but I was able to make a quick note with the sticky papers that I had.

I also received such a wonderful gift, and she had planned a whole outfit for me; from a nice dress which is suitable for a function, to its jewelry and perfume. Everyone was so busy with admiring the gifts that they got and we had found the perfect gifts for each other since we knew everyone so well. It was good to see that they were happy about my gift recommendations as well. We received a gift from the management too. It was a memory filled with joy that we all would carry in our mind and heart.

Merry xmas everyone!