I have just purchased my flights to go home to Melbourne, Australia for Christmas this year!! Yoohoo!
It has caused me to reflect on my 2014 Christmas which I spent in London with my crazy expat friends. It was the first time I spent Christmas abroad and also the first time I spent it without my parents.
Christmas Dinner
We had 11 people for what we dubbed our ‘Orphans Christmas’. So mama Berms (one of the girls living at the house we chose to all go to for Christmas) decided to make a giant food order for all of us.
Her and her boyfriend then cooked the majority of the meal while the rest of us drank booze and hung out.
I made one dish for the meal to help out, Cauliflower Cheese. I just couldn’t have Christmas dinner without it. What was interesting was that we all had our little Christmas traditions within our families that we all wanted to see happen on the day – which was funny to hear what the traditions were because they were all so different! Christmas IS Christmas because of those special quirks.
It reminded me of that Thanksgiving ‘Friends’ episode!
Traditions Framitions
The problem with spending Christmas away from home is that all of your traditions are gone. So – for me – I had to adhere somewhat to tradition but also just make up new things to do instead! Make it a unique experience instead of creating a poor substitute of what I’m used to.
Together we created a new tradition: A Christmas Dance Party.
The 11 of us danced long into the night, giving up our best dance moves and sweating up a storm in our Christmas jumpers.
Spending Christmas with my favourite friends will always be one of my favourite memories – because we were all in it together and we all came together.
I may never have another Orphan’s Christmas, but I can tell you – if you are an expat and you can’t afford the flight home for the holidays, stick it out with your friends. It will surely be a Christmas to remember.
Australian expat, married to a Dutch guy, living in Amsterdam. Previously lived in London for 3 years, too! Lover of travel, coffee, brunch, beaches, fresh flowers, and family. Now a new mum, navigating life with a baby!
