The Holidays.

During the last week, I have had the privilege to be gathered with all of my fellow Volunteers in Philippines Batch 267 to celebrate our half-way point of service. Because of the timing of MST (mid-service training), many of my friends are excited to return to their families and friends in America to celebrate the holidays. Whether they will be visiting for two weeks or five, they will all be able to spend quality time with their loved ones and unashamedly join in the traditions that they have grown up with.

While I didn’t think that I would be sad to be away for the holidays for yet another year, being around many people who will all be experiencing an American Christmas this year has made me realize that yes, I do miss some things. My Grandmothers’ cookies, our family gatherings, and the smell of a real Christmas tree cannot be replaced by a package in the mail or by a Skype conversation. Sleeping next to the Christmas tree and waking up to a blizzard outside will not happen here. I can’t hug my nieces and nephews, my grandparents, or my aunts and uncles. Watching my puppy rip apart Christmas wrapping paper from gifts just isn’t the same through the computer.

Despite being away, I feel really fortunate to be able to create new traditions in a faraway land. Spending Christmas with my host family is not the same, but it is special and rewarding nonetheless. It brings a smile to my face when we can just enjoy each other’s company, with the aid of some videoke, delicious food, and red wine. I will spend a day and a half baking hundreds of cookies with some really wonderful friends, all in an effort to create the feeling of Christmas-at-home-away-from-home. Hopefully when it is done, we will have plenty of cookies to eat and to share. I will undoubtedly talk with family members in the US while they are preparing for family gatherings, church services, and overall chaos.

Yes, it is not the same. But sometimes life is not about doing Christmas how we have always done Christmas. Being away has helped me learn to appreciate those special moments so much more than I did, and so I know that when I have the chance again to see my family and to celebrate the holidays like we have done together for so many years, I will be truly grateful to be there. For now, I also appreciate the incredible opportunity that I have to be a part of another family, who were strangers to me just over a year ago. While there may be short moments of homesickness or general wonder in the next two weeks, I am looking forward to celebrating the holidays in a place where I am also loved and that I can, for now, call home.