Advertisement
Published: December 24th 2008
Edit Blog Post
For the majority of December, Christmas didn’t really enter into my consciousness. There were a few Christmas decorations here and there at department stores and at school, but nothing like the full-blown holiday bonanza, from pre-Thanksgiving onward, that it would be at home. The weather also didn’t help give me the holiday feeling, since it is continuously warm and balmy, a constant August feeling that makes it more difficult for me to mark the passage of time.
In the mornings before school they play children’s music over the P.A. system, which is a nice touch, I think, and in the last few weeks they have switched to angelic voices singing all the Christmas hits. That made it seem a little more present, but still not a reality. Even when they started decorating the classrooms for Christmas, and a cotton ball snowman bulletin board appeared in front of the school, it still didn't really hit home. I guess it's because even though at home Christmas has been hijacked by commerialism, we still understand what it is all about, even if we aren't religious. But here most people have no idea what the holiday is ACTUALLY about. They have just appropriated it
like Americans have appropriated Cinco de mayo and St. Patrick's Day (but without the huge push on alcohol sales).
The first tinge of being-far-from home blues came on Satuday night, when I arrived to Bangkok from Pak Chong. I was walking through the subway station (which, by the way, is immaculate-- I would consider eating something off the floor there, unlike the NY subway where I wouldn't let a pet rat dine) and I heard a haunting female voice singing Christmas songs. I suddenly felt really lonely and really alone, for the first time since I've been here. There was something eery about walking through the nearly-empty station, listening to Christmas music. I realized after a while that something was a little off about the songs, though it took me several to pinpoint exactly what it was. I finally realized that the female singer was Asian, as some of the words were pronounced with that accent. It was mostly only very slightly noticeable, except for the enunciated “t” in ChrisTmas, which truly depressed me.
When I got to school on Monday, word came that the director was not going to give foreign teacher's Christmas Day off, but by the end of the day she had changed her mind. Though I should have been excited not to have to work, I know that the day is mostly going to be Christmas parties in the classrooms anyway, and a part of me would rather be there than hanging out by myself. The other people I know in this area already have off and have scattered for vacation and I still have to go back to work on Friday. The only other Christmas I have been away was when I was in Mexico, but I was surrounded by other volunteers and 600 kids, so there was no sense of being lonely or alone, it was quite festive actually!
Well yesterday I was feeling a bit glum again, and I decided I needed to do something about it. Something that always helps to stop moping is to do something for other people, so I went to the market to buy something for the other teachers. I ended up settling on apples, which I know seems sort of strange and not very exciting, but apples are relatively expensive here and so though it is just a small token, it is still a nice gesture, I think. I didn't get one for all the teachers, but for the all of the foreign ones and the Thai ones who I have the most contact with, including the office ladies. I got a nice big pineapple for the director. I went home and made small little cards to go with the fruit and I magically felt much better! Also, I can't feel too sad because Vinny will be arriving on Friday evening and so we will have to have some type of post-Christmas celebration in Bangkok this weekend.
My day today got brighter when I received a surprise package from Virginia and Fiona, with assorted goodies such as a new headlamp (to replace the one that was stolen with my cell phone in Ko Chang), a gossip magazine, 6 CDs they burned, veggie broth, and some beauty products. Awesome!!! Then I got a slip saying another package had arrived at the post office and I had to go for pick-up. I busted a move to the post office after school and found the big package from mom and dad, which contained, among other things, mac and cheese, Hershey Kisses, and a bitty Christmas tree! Also awesome! It's really special to get mail from home and even more special to get a package. What fun that they arrived on Christmas Eve.
Well, I am off to watch Elf (only Christmas-themed movie at my video store) and eat my Christmas Eve dinner- mac and cheese (think Kevin in Home Alone), green beans, salad, sesame tofu, and mashed potatoes.
Wishing you all a beautiful holiday and a happy start to 2009 (or 2552 for those of you in Thailand and/or other parts of Asia)!
Advertisement
Tot: 0.173s; Tpl: 0.011s; cc: 12; qc: 64; dbt: 0.1134s; 1; m:domysql w:travelblog (10.17.0.13); sld: 1;
; mem: 1.2mb
Courtney
non-member comment
Ahh yes, I understand completely. I too got mac n cheese in a package from the rents and was so excited! I'm saving it for a night when I really need some good comfort food. Love the home alone throw back though ;-)