Carmel-by-the-Sea
TECHNOLOGY IS YOUR BEST FRIEND
During my first time as an expat in Ireland I spent many hours using Windows Messenger (does it still work?), then I moved on to Skype while I was in California. Nowadays, there are even more ways to communicate like Whatsapp or Facebook. I didn’t have a smartphone back in the day, now you pretty much have the world in your pocket.
FIND WAYS TO GIVE BACK
One of my favorite activities as an au-pair was helping out at the Food Bank in San Francisco. Find out how you can make a difference, maybe you can help the elderly, volunteer at a Soup Kitchen or spend some time with kids who are having a hard time. It’s such a fulfilling experience!
Rodeo Drive L.A.
SHARE A ROOM
If you are traveling by yourself, stay at a hostel. Chances are you’ll find people in the same situation.
GIVE YOURSELF A TREAT
Yes, we live in a consumer society but a little retail therapy didn’t hurt anyone. I found that giving myself a treat made me feel much better when I was feeling blue. It can be clothes, eating out or a visit to the spa. Think about what your guilty pleasure is and spoil yourself for a day.
EMBRACE LOCAL TRADITIONS
One of the beautiful things about living abroad is learning about and embracing other cultures. Do what the locals do and you can still follow those traditions and show them to family and friends when you go back. If you are in Spain for instance you can eat the 12 grapes on New Year’s Eve or celebrate the day of The Three Wise Men by watching the parade and eating Roscon de Reyes (more on Christmas in Spain coming soon).
KEEP YOUR TRADITIONS
Show those around you what you do back home during the holidays. Do those things that you miss even if it’s just watching your favorite Christmas movie.
Brussels
SEND CHRISTMAS CARDS
This is the tradition that I miss the most, not getting any mail. While living abroad I used to get letters and birthday cards but not anymore. The excitement of seeing that someone was thinking about you and cared to send your something is gone. So maybe send some Christmas cards home, you will probably get some from family and friends too.
GET YOUR LOVED ONES TO VISIT YOU
“If the mountain will not come to Muhammad, then Muhammad must go to the mountain”. I was really lucky that my parents could come visit me in California that year. They spent Christmas Day on a plane but at least we could spend a few days together.
San Francisco
Have you ever spent Christmas abroad? What did you do to beat homesickness?
xo Cristina
English corner
expat – a person taking up residency in another country
to give back (to your community/society) – help those in need
retail therapy – shopping in order to make oneself feel more cheerful
to feel blue – depressed
guilty pleasure – something that one enjoys
What gorgeous pictures and wonderful tips. I am sure it is hard sometimes bless your heart. Have a fabulous day sweet lady!
Es lugar es como vivir dentro de la navidad, me gusta muchísimo.
Te dejo un video, peinado fácil: trenza con gomitas
http://www.simplysory.com/2017/12/14/peinado-facil-eventos-navidenos/
Since we had two days off–Christmas and Dec. 26–I would fly off somewhere that didn't celebrate, where it was just another day. Tunisia, Morocco…the blast of sunshine also helped. I remember calling my parents to wish them Merry Christmas; my dad asked what the noise was–it was the waves at the beach in Tunisia.
Other times I volunteered, and as you say, it's a way to bring cheer to others. I delivered meals to the elderly, and we were encouraged to stay and talk as long as the recipients wanted. It gave the regular delivery people a day off with their families and it was a great opportunity to make the holiday less lonely for the elderly shut-ins.
When my sister lived in the Netherlands I visited her for Christmas. We traveled from there to parts of Germany, Prague, and Poland. I loved the Christmas markets!
Love this! I have never spent the holidays out of the country but I am no stranger to spending them states and states away from my family. It can be lonely but like you said, you have to make your own traditions!
As a fellow travel blogger I can understand your feelings about traveling during holidays and being so far away from the comforts of loved ones. With technology we are just an email or text away from our loved ones but there is still nothing like seeing them in person. I hope you have a very Merry Christmas.
Thanks for sharing these ideas – I'm sure it will be appreciated by many of your readers.
And thanks for joining us at https://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2017/12/at-dusk.html
This is going to be us next year! It would be so great to have family visit us while we're gone!
It can't be easy being away from loved ones at Christmas but look at all of these amazing places you've been and experienced the holidays at!
Perfect list, and I truly couldn't agree more! Thanks for sharing girl!
Love,
Amber | http://www.loveambervictoria.com
These are all really great tips! I love the idea to give back, and get involved in some of the local things! And the internet!! It makes connecting with loved ones much easier!
I have never spent Christmas alone or in a foreign country, but if I had, these would be great tips. It would just need to be somewhere with snow!
I haven't spend the holidays away from home, but I bet it can be really tough! These are all great ways to keep the Christmas spirt alive!! I totally understand the Christmas card part, I always love receiving them.
xo
Mel
These are good tips. It can be hard to spend Christmas in another country but it sounds like an interesting thing to do.
http://sugarcoatedbears.blogspot.com/
These are really great tips dear. Btw, your photos are gorgeous as always!
Jessica | notjessfashion.com
This is a great post with a lot of awesome ideas! I've never been away from my family and friends during the holidays, but I know it must be hard. We are so lucky now to have so many options for connecting with others via the internet! And, of course, letters are the best! Even if you aren't away from family during the holidays, it can still be a lot of fun to receive letters in the mail from those you love!
I couldn't agree more, Mandy. Internet has made communication so much easier but I miss receiving a good old letter/postcard