Justin and I recently received two separate Christmas surprises.  As we got home from work yesterday, I checked the mail and, surprise, a Christmas card from my grandma and grandpa was waiting for us.  Mailed all the way from the United States.

I opened it up and inside was a family photo taken in October at my brother’s wedding.  Everyone looks so beautiful and happy.

My grandparents are awesome for mailing a Christmas card all the way to us in New Zealand.  Who would have thought that an envelope could arrive here from the States and only cost $0.94 in postage?  That’s right, their is only one stamp on the envelope.  Amazing!

Our second Christmas surprise occurred today.  Justin and I received beautiful flowers (including Gerber daisies, thanks mom) and an entire basket of fresh fruit.  Oh, the blueberries are delicious and we can’t wait to cut open the pineapple.

Being away from family over the holidays is not the easiest thing.  People have mentioned to Justin and I that it’s easier for us, because we have each other.  Although this is true, we have both shared the lack of that “true Christmas Cheer”.  It doesn’t feel quite like Christmas without sitting around catching, “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation” on TV as a family. 

I am sure other long term travelers can empathize with Justin and I.  Part of travel during the holiday season is nice, because we are able to avoid the endless “busy motion” of the holidays.  No endless stream of work parties, community gatherings, multiple (their are 2 of us) family obligations, and heavier work loads as the Christmas season leads into the new year.  Long term travel has released us of our full time jobs and the overwhelming holiday season that follows.

However, being a nomad backpacker for Christmas means a lack of family and the familiar.  Instead, we are stuck with everything foreign and unnatural to us.  Most Kiwi’s have “Christmas Barbeque on the Beach”, which sounds unreal after celebrating with years of snowy Michigan around Christmas.  It’s just not the same.  It’s almost, dare I say, as though New Zealanders celebrate an artificial Christmas with less emphasize put on most element of the holidays.  The culture of Christmas is unlike the enthusiastic America Christmas.  The suberbia light display competitions, the childrens Christmas productions, the mall at 7 pm on Christmas Eve, the Salvation Army bell being rung outside the grocery store, and all the other traditions that encompass Christmas time in America.  None of it is here.  I miss it.

But I’ve been able to experience some Christmas Cheer through my parents and grandparents unique gifts and creativity.  Have a great Christmas.  Enjoy not only the Red and Green, but the Red, White and Blue too.

Tags | New Zealand