Comments on: How Travelers Can Survive Christmas Away From Home

By: Carlo

Carlo — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 04:09:06 +0000

This is my third Chrissie (see? I’m already Australian) away from home (Vancouver), and first in Oz (Melbourne). Last year was at Jungle Beach in Vietnam, and we did our best. We wrapped up gifts in palm leaves and seashells.

My wife and I carried on a tradition we started in Vancouver. We visited a tree farm near Melbourne and strolled around, picked out our tree and had them cut it down for us. But that really was it, it’s almost impossible to get into the spirit here. Next year we will spend it in Germany, visiting all the Christkindlmarkts and spend time with my wife’s family. That should do the trick!

Have a safe and happy new years all…

By: Happy Festivus. « On the Fringe

Happy Festivus. « On the Fringe — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 16:39:18 +0000

[...] expat struggling to adjust to the Christmas holidays in a new environment, Amanda Kendle has some advice for [...]

By: Amanda Kendle

Amanda Kendle — Fri, 19 Dec 2008 10:36:04 +0000

Ooh, Ant, you’ll have to stay in Oz a bit longer to know that we don’t say shrimp … we throw prawns on the barbie! And it’s a perfectly acceptable Christmas Day dish (usual in our family!).

But I can well imagine that it doesn’t feel like Christmas to you in Melbourne … over here in Perth there are too many people at the shops and some almost worn-out decorations in the city, but that’s where the Christmas spirit ends.

By: Ant

Ant — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 10:45:07 +0000

I’m in Melbourne now and you could be forgiven for not even knowing it was Christmas next week? Saying that, I’m England’s roving Christmas Grinch so it’s all good by me.

With climate change roaring through the advent calender, I think it’s time more people came to Australia to practice the non-white Christmas’ of the future!

‘Oi Santa, shove another shri…’ No. Stop. I couldn’t. ‘…shrimp on the barbie!’ Shame on me.

By: Amanda Kendle

Amanda Kendle — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 09:53:54 +0000

Nora, I understand you completely, even though I grew up in Australia, the three or four Christmases (4?) living in Europe completely spoiled me. Now Christmas in Oz is totally wrong. And, as you’ll see, we Aussies can’t seem to let go of the white Christmas idea anyway and have snowmen pictures everywhere etc. Christmas is never *really* Christmas down here … hope the blow flies don’t land in your Christmas pudding Nora!

@Brian, enjoy your African Christmas, too!

By: Nora Dunn

Nora Dunn — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 20:14:15 +0000

This will be my second Christmas in a row away from “home” (although not my first taste of Christmas away – I spent one a few years ago in South Africa…you’ll have a great time Brian).
The difference for me in contrast to your Christmases Amanda, is that I’m used to the white Christmas and struggling to embrace an Aussie (and last year a Hawaii) one! It just seems wrong when the sensory indicators of Christmas are cicadas chirping, blow flies buzzing, and march flies biting! (smiles)

By: brian from nodebtworldtravel.com

brian from nodebtworldtravel.com — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 20:15:37 +0000

I’ll be in South Africa or Ethiopia this year for Christmas and I’ll just absorb myself in the environment I’m in. Pretty much what I’m doing on my RTW trip everyday anyway.