Christmas is a special time for being with loved ones, particularly family. It is a season steeped in tradition, Roast turkey, Christmas pudding, cricket matches, and too much alcohol! So what happens when you aren’t in your home country surrounded by family, friends and traditions?
This happened to us our second year in Vietnam. We decided to stay put in HCMC, not rush back to Australia and into the social whirlwind that is the norm when we return. The exciting part for me was that for the first time ever, we had agreed to go out for Christmas lunch. No slaving over a hot oven, no rushing to set the perfect table, no getting upset when everyone was playing with their Christmas gifts while I dashed madly around the kitchen.. It was all very civilized. For my husband this was a big deviation from what he likes, and he wasn’t comfortable at all with the plan. He is very much one for tradition, there must be roast turkey, ham and roast vegetables. When I suggested seafood and salads one year, he almost fell of his chair. He very solemnly said that I could do seafood and salad, but he would be cooking roast turkey. Somehow we managed to talk him around to it. On Christmas morning a leisurely breakfast was followed by time to shower, pamper and prepare myself for lunch out. A group of our closest friends met us at the Sheraton Hotel, in the center of town. Ho Chi Minh City really got into the swing of Xmas, fake snow was falling from the Saigon Centre, snowmen and giant Santa Clauses dominated Dong Khoi Street, twinkling lights decorated the buildings and Christmas Carols belted out from the malls almost in tune with the ceaseless honking of motor bike horns. There was a very festive atmosphere.
We were handed a glass of champagne as we entered the Restaurant and were greeted with the beautiful voices of the local children’s choir as they serenaded us with “Silent night”. The Sheraton was decorated stylishly and the food smelt divine. The whole atmosphere was festive and Christmassy, which was something we were all worried would be lost by eating out. As many of you know when you are expating your friends become your family, and our lovely friends helped make this a very special Christmas day for us. We kept up some of the old traditions, Roast Turkey, Xmas pudding, hiding the brussel sprouts under your napkin, drinking too much, and then started some new ones. (One that has continued is a sock on top of our Christmas. For some reason we couldn’t find our Christmas Angel for the top of the tree, and one of the girls stuck a coloured sock on top instead. That’s where it stayed for the next few weeks, and every year since). After lunch we headed home, along with our friends and continued the fun. We played the hilarious Kris Kringle game where you are allowed to steal someone else’s present. We all ended up rolling around the floor in hysterics, as a pair of boxing gloves became the “must have” gift. The day passed quickly and in a blur of food and good times. While it wasn’t the Christmas we were used to it was certainly one we would never forget. Years ago the thought of Christmas without my family around would have been unbearable, but its amazing how much we learn to adapt and change as our lives take turns we aren’t expecting.
While I wouldn’t want to have Christmas away from the family every year, it is certainly nice to change it up now and again.
Wherever you are this Christmas, and who ever you celebrate it with, I hope you have a wonderful time and create some truly special memories.