25 Dec A Traveler’s Christmas Story

Posted at 14:02h in Travel Stories by
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Christmas away from home is a funny feeling. This was my first experience spending the holiday away from family and I’ve felt such an array of emotions on all sides of the spectrum. But they’ve all led me to the Hallmark movie ending, learning what Christmas is all about.

Pt 1: This sucks.

For months I had known I would miss Christmas with my family. I planned to live in Argentina for a long time and it didn’t make sense financially to fly back and forth from two sides of the world. 

At first, I cared little. I had accepted it wasn’t in the cards, I didn’t dwell on it and with sunny, 90 degree weather my brain could barely comprehend the time of year anyways. Besides in Argentina it wasn’t Christmas any of us were focused on, it was the World Cup! 

But after the country’s triumphant win and millions celebrated in the streets, the chants began to fade and I experienced a complete crash. As all dopamine hit the floor, my brain glumly discerned, Christmas is in a few days. 

While Facetiming my family as my sister arrives from California, my nephew explains the candy Santa is bringing him, and the Christmas tree shines in the background, I really started to feel majorly homesick. And when a shopping mall Christmas tree couldn’t lift my spirits, I cried the night before Christmas Eve watching movies alone…

That’s a sad, maybe even a comical scene, but I really hated that even with how happy I am traveling, sometimes you can’t have everything. 

But this isn’t a depressing story, because as much as I long to be at home with the people I love, I found genuine joy and beauty in this Christmas.

Pt 2: We’re All Family Here

My phone buzzes, notifying me of messages.

A text from an Argentino friend:

I know how important Christmas is to people from USA and that you’re sad to miss it so I got you a gift, enjoy it.

A text from my sister:

We miss you so much for Christmas but I’m so proud of you for the path you’re on and living this life.

Any tears welling up now are just happy.

A message in the Buenos Aires group chat

Caroline we’re having a Christmas Eve meal at our place, you should come by at 7.

On the rooftop of a hostel, I gathered with two dozen other travelers away from home for the holidays to enjoy Christmas Eve dinner. Despite barely knowing most of them, as the clock struck midnight we all went around and embraced each other wishing a warm Merry Christmas.

We’ve all heard the cliche, Christmas isn’t about gifts, it’s about being with your family. But I learned that’s not the full story, because I couldn’t be with my blood family this year. 

Christmas is actually about expressing love for family even if you can’t be together; it’s about feeling and giving love to other humans, no matter if they’re strangers or friends. 

Having to be away from home this Christmas sucks and I wish teleportation was invented.

But I’m proud of myself for honoring my own path, I’m grateful for my experiences this year, I feel blessed to have a family that loves and misses me so much, I feel welcome in Argentina, and I feel connected to new and old friends.

This wasn’t the holiday I’m used to, but it was a beautiful one. To anyone reading this, Merry Christmas and thank you for being here ❤️

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