Christmas represents a time of giving, sharing, eating and drinking, but most of all, spending time with your nearest and dearest. It is one of a few days of the year where families worldwide gather together to celebrate together. This is why if you’re spending Christmas away from home, the sight of yet another glistening plastic ball hanging from a fake tree can bring a tear to the eye and a snarl to the mouth. Yet Christmas away from home doesn’t have to be spent with the curtains shut and Blackadder’s Christmas Carol on repeat. I’m not going to deny that Christmases away from home can be difficult, but here are a few tips to make it bearable, enjoyable even, no matter where you are in the world.
The nightmare before Christmas….
For those spending Christmas overseas, make sure you find out well in advance what days are public holidays. Christmas Eve is celebrated just as heavily as Christmas in places like the Czech-Republic, Brazil, and Estonia, so you don’t want to be caught out when the shops close as I was last year. In preparation for a Christmas lunch, my fellow backpackers and I had plans to hit the supermarkets of Buenos Aires late Christmas Eve. We were already feeling miserable knowing our families were having Christmas at the time so not being able to find a single store open left us frustrated and angry. We finally found an open 7/11 and after waiting in line for what felt like hours to buy some chocolate, bread, and cheese, we were overcharged about $20. We attempted to argue the insane amount but instead of a refund and a Merry Christmas we had a receipt thrust at us that contained what can only be called ‘abstract math’.
Speaking of Christmas Eve blues, they can sneak up on you most unexpectedly. Thinking you’re still a day away from feeling the inevitable tidal wave of homesickness, the pain of the Christmas Eve comes as a shock. Feeling slightly unhappy as you awake in your eight bed dorm, you remind yourself that it’s not yet Christmas and to cheer up. Then Mum rings and it all comes crashing down. It is Christmas back home. Don’t make the same mistakes I did and spend Christmas Eve getting ripped off by Scrooge-like 7/11 owners and plan something with fellow travellers or do some sightseeing. Hostels usually have Christmas activities so book into a fun-loving hostel so that after that phone call home you can distract yourself enough to forget about Christmas.
Beware those bearing gifts…
Whether you’re travelling or just have to stay away from home for whatever reason this year, don’t forget to open your presents when it suits you. This is one time when you can buck tradition and un-wrap gifts whenever you like. I’m staying in Melbourne for work this year whilst my boyfriend is flying back across the Tasman where the rest of my family are also located. I’m a little bit bothered with the idea of opening presents all alone on Christmas morning, so I’ll be un-wrapping mine before he departs. I don’t want to miss out on the big smile when I give him his.
Tis’ the season…
Now that you have all been alerted to the dangers that come with a Christmas spent away, let us ditch the bah-humbug attitude and turn our attention to matters more pressing… what to do? I don’t suggest wallowing in misery as I saw one girl doing in Mendoza a whole three weeks before Christmas. She was sitting pool-side, surrounded by interesting travellers in one of Argentina’s most glorious wine and adventure destinations, crying her eyes out. We heard from her partner that she had been bawling for days on end because she wouldn’t be home in Ireland for Christmas. Instead of making the most of experiencing a hot Christmas and boasting of a tan while her friends and family were freezing at home, she was drowning in self-pity. I would suggest taking better advantage of your location than that! Pack in activities and sightseeing with all that money usually spent on Christmas presents. Stuck for things to do on Christmas day itself? It sounds dull, but my crew and I took advantage of low traffic and no crowds and hopped in an overnight bus to Iguaçu. It may not have been the most rocking Christmas night in the world but surrounded by butterflies and incredible waterfalls the next day, I think we would all agree it was worth it.
Those of us settled in a new country or working on Christmas day don’t have the luxury of changing location overnight, but this doesn’t mean Christmas has to be miserable. If you’re working, chances are someone else is too. Track down others with no plans and organise an orphan Christmas. Get a Kris Kringle going with those working and make sure you organise lots of yummy food to devour!
Determined to spend Christmas alone or literally know no one? That’s ok, but don’t sit around feeling sorry for yourself. Take the opportunity to try out a new skill – I’ve got sushi making on the cards if other plans fall through – or watch that DVD no one else wanted to see with you. Got some spare cash? Why not find a day spa that is open Christmas or pamper yourself in a hotel? No matter what you’re doing, don’t forget to eat some delicious food as well!
If all else fails…
Just can’t muster the energy to have a happy Christmas? Then make someone else’s Christmas better and offer to work or volunteer at a shelter. It’ll certainly stop any self-pity thoughts in their tracks. Failing all that have a super late Christmas Eve so the 25th is nothing but a blur…
Merry Christmas Everyone
Image credit: Sandi Sieger
