Holidays abroad blues

[kaybee85]

Anyone else feeling a little bummed to be away from the traditions of home? I'm having a hard time with Thanksgiving (and had a hard time with Halloween LOL) because they aren't celebrated here (France). I'm not friends with a lot of Americans, mostly British people, so while some people do friendsgiving dinners etc, I won't be partaking this year. I probably could have tried harder to find cranberries, pumpkin fill (or replacement items to make pumpkin pie), etc, but I am just kind of tired from pregnancy and didn't feel like venturing out to the suburbs to make it happen...and now I kind of regret it. 

I don't know, I guess I'm just kind of venting. I'm excited for Christmas, because that is a big deal here, so I don't think it will feel nearly as sad as the last two. I wouldn't even care about Halloween, except I have an almost 2 year old, and I was more bummed to miss out than I expected. 

We decided in advance not to travel for the holidays because it's expensive and just kind of stressful, but I'm just jealous of everyone on my FB with family, friends, celebrating. 

Thanks for listening to my Debbie Downer post! lol. Feel free to join in 

[mrsukyankee]

It's okay. I remember feeling that way before I began to invite people over for Thanksgiving or get invites back. I don't go home for Christmas and I really feel that a bit more, even though I celebrate with friends.

[gigem]

I know exactly how you are feeling and I have gotten in my holiday-aboard funk starting around Halloween and when everyone talking about fall which is ridic because I grew up in Florida so it isnt like we had fall anyways.

Now with Thanksgiving I am cranky and feeling lonely, I have a cple of American friends but one already left for her vacation so I am jealous of that and otherwise we are with mostly French ppl so not yet celebrating the holidays. I don't even like Thanksgiving very much (the food haha) but for some reason every year it just hits me, the idea of missing out being with family. I love living abroad even in a "harship" country but this is always a hard time of year.

Not sure how to feel better, we are putting up a small tree this wknd, we do a ton of Skype anyways, but we have 4wks until we head out of here for Xmas hols and most of our neighbors will go sooner so I think my funk (and jealousy!) is going to last 4 full wks . At least I can start playing Xmas music from tmrrw haha.

Of course where we are they do decorate for Xmas (this issue of it being now the hottest time of year doesn't bother me or feel less xmasy, southern hemisphere xmas is fine by me we still get music and decorations and parties) and there are a few events organized at daycare but I think the element of fam is really what throws me off.

[kaybee85]

gigem, I've never been that into Thanksgiving, either, so I think that is throwing me off. The family aspect is hard, too, even though there isn't a big family event that I'm missing this year.

I may have a hot lead on cranberry sauce, which I'll check out today (lol)

[cattledogkisses]

This is the first time in my life that I haven't spent the holidays with family, so I understand.  I'm trying to focus on creating new traditions, but I do miss the traditions of home.

I gave in and put up my tree last night because I knew that decorating would make me feel a little better.

[cattledogkisses]

Nov 23, 2016 14:51:43 GMT -5 kaybee85 said:

Anyone else feeling a little bummed to be away from the traditions of home? I'm having a hard time with Thanksgiving (and had a hard time with Halloween LOL) because they aren't celebrated here (France). I'm not friends with a lot of Americans, mostly British people, so while some people do friendsgiving dinners etc, I won't be partaking this year. I probably could have tried harder to find cranberries, pumpkin fill (or replacement items to make pumpkin pie), etc, but I am just kind of tired from pregnancy and didn't feel like venturing out to the suburbs to make it happen...and now I kind of regret it. 

I don't know, I guess I'm just kind of venting. I'm excited for Christmas, because that is a big deal here, so I don't think it will feel nearly as sad as the last two. I wouldn't even care about Halloween, except I have an almost 2 year old, and I was more bummed to miss out than I expected. 

We decided in advance not to travel for the holidays because it's expensive and just kind of stressful, but I'm just jealous of everyone on my FB with family, friends, celebrating. 

Thanks for listening to my Debbie Downer post! lol. Feel free to join in 

I combed the stores for days to try to find all the ingredients I wanted for Thanksgiving!  Around here if something isn't in season it's basically impossible to find, and on the off chance that you do find it it'll cost you three arms and a leg.  I ended up striking out on green beans, cranberries, and celery, so I'm going to attempt stuffing with no celery. 

I stocked up on canned pumpkin during our last trip to Germany so I could make a pumpkin pie.

[kaybee85]

cattledogkisses, are you? It's similar in France, although is being in the city center means I have to know the small shops to check out or take the metro/tram out to shop at a mega store

[rupertpenny]

I have mixed feelings about holidays abroad. I have FOMO about what's happening at home, but at the same time I'm glad I'm not in the middle of it. We're actually going home for Christmas this year (first time to the us in two years!!!) and I have mixed feelings. One the one hand I'm so excited for target and chipotle and seeing some family, but I also know it will be crazy and exhausting.

Having friends around does help, but I'm going to a thanksgiving dinner tonight and only one other person besides me and H is American and I'm irrationally irritated by it. Are these jerks trying to steal OUR holiday?!?

[gigem]

rupertpenny holidays plus expat life makes us irritated for a lot of irrational reasons!

my local expat bestie who is not american LOVES holidays, all of them, from any country, so she is making us a thanksgiving dinner which is really sweet and i most definitely did not tell her that i totally dislike all thanksgiving food. DH wants to bring an avocado appetizer because it is avocado season here so they are cheap and delicious.

[dorothyinAus]

I have a harder time at Mardi Gras than I do at Thanksgiving. Christmas is difficult for me because the weather is so different, even though growing up it was often hot on Christmas Day.

I got home Monday from 6 weeks in the US, and did not feel like going all out for Thanksgiving, but I did pick up Fish & Chips to have a nice, easy meal with my in-laws. DH was calling it Thanks-Fishing or Fish-Giving. And I made shortbread (all I could as there was nothing in the house).

[Deleted]

Vent away kaybee85 , it's rough to be away from family during the holidays. Most of the time I don't think about it because I have been away so long, but when I hear all about their plans, it hits home how much I miss them.

[kaybee85]

Dec 12, 2016 5:19:58 GMT -5 @cheshire said:

Vent away kaybee85 , it's rough to be away from family during the holidays. Most of the time I don't think about it because I have been away so long, but when I hear all about their plans, it hits home how much I miss them.

Thanks! Luckily, the blues have kind of passed, probably because Christmas is a big deal here in France as well, so I don't feel like I'm missing out. My daughter is really into all the holiday lights around the city, etc, so it has been a lot more fun. Hope you aren't feeling the holiday blues. It is hard. 

[cattledogkisses]

Dec 12, 2016 5:19:58 GMT -5 @cheshire said:

Vent away kaybee85 , it's rough to be away from family during the holidays. Most of the time I don't think about it because I have been away so long, but when I hear all about their plans, it hits home how much I miss them.

Seeing stuff on social media like family get-togethers, and friends baking cookies together, and pictures of snow and a New England white Christmas has been doing this to me lately. 

I remind myself that they're jealous of our warm weather though.  And being able to skype in for events to say "hi" helps. 

[Deleted]

Dec 12, 2016 9:47:59 GMT -5 cattledogkisses said:

Dec 12, 2016 5:19:58 GMT -5 @cheshire said:

Vent away kaybee85 , it's rough to be away from family during the holidays. Most of the time I don't think about it because I have been away so long, but when I hear all about their plans, it hits home how much I miss them.

Seeing stuff on social media like family get-togethers, and friends baking cookies together, and pictures of snow and a New England white Christmas has been doing this to me lately. 

I remind myself that they're jealous of our warm weather though.  And being able to skype in for events to say "hi" helps. 

I wish I could get my family to Skype! And I am definitely jealous of your warm weather - to me that feels like Christmas!