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Here, they will talk about the similarities and/or differences of how the holidays are spent here and where they are. In our thrust to always reach out, the comment box below every article will also be an avenue to dedicate messages to your loved ones who are far away from you this Christmas.
If you ask me, I used to wish I’d be away from home on Christmas. My Christmases have always been the same. I could even say it’s predictable. Almost every year, I know what my mom would make during Christmas. My lola’s biko is never absent in the dining table. My brothers and I made a spiel on how we would jokingly compliment my sister’s spaghetti. We have memorized that spiel by heart. I know exactly what time my Kuya from Batangas would call. I can read my Daddy’s mind about his aversion to fireworks but secretly looks at them in awe when it’s all fired up. Our Christmas tree is not made of a fresh pine tree, in fact it has been the same old tree for the past 7 Christmases. I know the kind of gifts I would receive, the kind of gifts I’d give. There’s no point in hiding the manito-manita name because it’s so obvious who it is. Even the carolers who try to squeeze one last song before midnight are the same. It is THAT predictable. And I wished that we could do things differently.
This all changed two years ago when I went with my husband to Perth, Australia for a photo project. This meant that I had to spend Christmas there. Finally, I’ll get a break from all the predictable hoopla I’m so used to. But then, our friends who are there have pre-planned their Christmases already where they have to travel away from Perth. So, my husband and I were left alone in very hot Perth (December is summer there).
We decided to drive to Banburry which is 2 hours away from Perth so we can have a different Christmas. And different, it really was. The place was like a ghost town. Most residents have travelled to colder areas, shops and restaurants were closed except for a Chinese restaurant (open 24/7! Predictable enough? haha) and a convenience store. So get this—at 12mn, husband and I settled for pizza which was so yucky (it had anchovies) and ice cream we bought at the convenience store while we Skyped with both families who were enjoying the usual predictable Christmas I’ve always complained about. It was the saddest Christmas ever.
Suddenly, I missed my mom’s cooking. I missed that dukot in my Lola’s biko. I missed the crazy banter my brothers and I do when we do the funny spiel on my sister’s spaghetti. I missed my Kuya, I missed Dad secretly tearing up at the sight of fireworks. I missed the dusty old Christmas tree and my predictable manito and manita. I even missed the crazy carolers who brave the streets near midnight. At that moment, I wished I was transported right back to Cebu, to experience the predictable.
Life is funny sometimes. We tend to take for granted what’s there but when it’s taken away from us, we want it all back. Maybe that trip was God’s way of saying that I need to appreciate what I have and take life as it is. It was a great eye opener for me. If I had missed that much in one Christmas, how much more for those who spend Christmas away from home because they have no choice but to be there? Thus, this Christmas Away from Home series is dedicated to them and their loved ones here. May the spirit of Christmas bring every one closer despite the distance.
This year, I’m spending Christmas with the folks— in the midst of being predictable. I couldn’t imagine spending it any other way. ☺
by: thisbe.ara
Editor-in-Chief, iSTORYA.NET
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