Ah! It’s finally
December, and socially acceptable to get ready for Christmas. Of course, the
holiday season includes Thanksgiving too, which to me is like a “practice”
Christmas. The holidays have always been something really special to me. Even
though my family never did anything crazy big to celebrate, I loved the idea of
traditions and everyone coming together to just give thanks for everything we’ve
been so blessed with.
After coming to
Taiwan, I didn’t get the chance to celebrate Thanksgiving (since... it’s an
American holiday), and I realized that Christmas here isn’t really celebrated
with the same magnitude and reverence as in the US. Decorative lights will line
the streets, but come Christmas Day, we still go to school and work like
normal. It was really heartbreaking to miss out on two of the most major
holidays, so this year, I’ve decided to introduce my Taiwanese friends to some
of the joys of the season.
Friendsgiving
This is not a new
concept at all, but definitely a new one to my friends. We had a potluck-style
dinner party, and used it as an opportunity to invite some new friends as well.
Our dinner turned into one of the most multi-cultural meals I’ve ever had. The
guest list consisted of people from three continents, and we had everything
from mac and cheese to baguettes, Spanish potato salad to Chinese herbal
chicken. (Fun fact: A lot of Taiwanese people didn’t know what mac and cheese
was!)
Not only was it a
great way for me to show them a little piece of American culture (yes, it
exists), they were able to share some of their own similar traditions. At the
end of the day, the most important part was just having everyone come together
and celebrate our friendship. We put the phones down, and had some good
old-fashioned conversation.
Christmas
One thing that I’ve
learned about celebrating the holidays overseas is that just because nobody
else is celebrating, doesn’t mean that you can’t! Taiwan still celebrates
Christmas, just not quite so seriously. I, on the other hand, have taken the
liberty of decorating my dorm room, getting a mini Christmas tree, and even an
advent calendar to really put myself in the holiday spirit.
Last year, I just had
a small Christmas dinner with my friends, and we were able to do a Secret Santa
gift exchange. This year, my Christmas plans are bigger and better. We are
doing a full-on photo shoot at Christmasland in New Taipei City, and I’ve
planned a full-fledged Christmas party along with some of the other dorms on
campus. All month, you’ll find me sipping on hot cocoa and listening to some
Christmas tunes.
The Takeaway
No matter what holidays
you celebrate, don’t be afraid to introduce it to friends in a foreign country!
It’s always fun to learn about other culture’s traditions and take part in
them. Do whatever you need to make yourself feel more at home in a new
environment.
