Gabe couldn't help a little stifled giggle. He didn't really try hard. "Wow," he said, grinning even as he shook his head. "You just jump straight into the big issues, don't you?" And then he took a moment to actually think about it. Being a teacher had, obviously, opened up a whole new tour of tooth-rotting delights to him, never mind that he'd been in the country for years before that. But still... "Marzipan. Best thing about Christmas. And baklava, but you really can't get the good stuff in this country. Your boiled sweets are--" He broke off, and leaned in towards Hayley with a faint apologetic and confiding smile. "No offense, but they're pretty fucking boring."
He straightened up and added, just as nonchalantly, "So did you volunteer to come, or were you sent here against your will?"