Life, the Universe and what ever crosses my mind: A Christmas Abroad

A Christmas Abroad

Merry Christmas Everybody! (Slade, 1973). I can still say it till 5^th January. I had a great Christmas and I hope you all had an awesome Christmas, too! This is my second Christmas abroad, in a country that doesn’t celebrate Christmas (that’s not saying Taiwan ignores Christmas entirely). All I can say is, like at home, Christmas is what you make it.

Our Christmas Tree

There are different ways expats deal with the holidays. Some seem particularly disenchanted with it all, some love it, others just go with the flow and expect what will be will be, and some fly home for the holidays. Me, I love Christmas! I am one of the ridiculous foreigners who tries to spread Christmas joy. I don’t know why, but I find myself celebrating Christmas more the less, for lack of better a term, white folks are around. Last year, Christmas day was the only day I had off in my first 11 months in Taiwan. It’s a time of year to be foolish, after all the best way to spread Christmas cheer is to sing loud for all to hear! (Elf, 2003). This year I decided to spread Christmas cheer in my school by wearing a Christmas Jumper or T-shirt every day, the kids loved it! I also brought an Advent Calendar into class and decorated my classroom; the kids of Taiwan may not celebrate with the same kind of consumerism as the western world, but they still love Christmas. I remember Yellow Sugar once told me she used to ‘hope Santa would come to Taiwan this year’.

Our Stockings (can you guess mine?)

Last year, I didn’t have a busy teaching schedule and was allowed Christmas day off, so I had quite a relaxed Christmas; making it feel kind of like a mini holiday. This year, I was much busier. Not only do I have a more crowded teaching schedule, but I had to work late on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day (with half pay). To compound this, the government decided the country would work the Saturday after Christmas, so the only day of rest I had on Christmas week was the final Sunday. Your brain is so used to having most of Christmas week off that it is strange and frustrating working extra hours over Christmas.

I am Santa!

The reason I was working extra hours, was because I am the only white guy at my school, I was Father Christmas! As disillusioned as I was to working late on this most sacred of days, I was still delighted to be Santa Claus. I never thought, considered, or ever really wanted to be Santa before, but it seemed something that would look good on the bucket list and something I could tell the children with grand kids (but, not the grandkids). I can tell you, when you are as fat as Ol’ St Nick it is very hard to bend down and it is particularly hot! I was not much use at helping clean or carry things. The reaction of children and parents alike is enough to bring a smile to even the most scrooge-est of faces; I had to stay a long while taking photos with people. As part of my performance as Santa I had to speak a mixture of Taiwanese, Mandarin and English, which was interesting to say the least. This was followed by giving candy (I’ve been teaching American English too long!) to all the children, who are like vultures when Santa and sweeties are about. My first performance of Santa was very amusing, my jacket kept coming undone and my man-boob pillows were determined to escape. Fighting this was made all the more difficult as all I could see was my manager trying to stopping laughing. The 2^nd event went much more smoothly, as I’m sure the 2^nd ever Christmas did; it takes time to learn how to become Father Christmas.

Christmas presents and Die Hard

Christmas Goose!

As I have mentioned, I was working late on Christmas Day. This meant I didn’t get home and have Christmas Dinner till about half past nine! Turkey is hard to come by in Taiwan, but goose isn’t, so I have been having Christmas goose since I’ve been in Taiwan; it is delicious! This late start to Christmas Dinner was only one aspect of what was a strange Christmas Day. Everybody works on Christmas, so my housemates left for work in the morning and I didn’t return till late; also I only had to go to work in the afternoon, so I was relaxing in our flat surrounded by all our wonderful presents. I made it through this part of the day by watching Match of the Day and The Greatest Christmas Story Ever Told, Die Hard. It was strange waiting all day to touch presents and not have that mid-afternoon, early evening relax because of that mixture of over stimulation and over eating. So, after my TV marathon, teaching, being Santa, and finally eating Christmas Dinner, it was half past ten and time to open our presents. It definitely felt an odd order to things; who has heard of Christmas Dinner before Christmas Presents! My family go crazy at Christmas and sent both me and Yellow Sugar lots of presents, so it is almost like being at home. In November, I went home and on my return I felt like Santa Claus himself; I was carrying over 30kg of presents from the UK to Taiwan, I know the big man uses reindeer, but a mixture of Airbus 380 and Boeing 777 worked a treat. Although, over this transit a few tags and bags had moved, so I was up at 4am trying to work out what was what; how Santa does all those houses in one night I will never know! I had a wonderful time sharing gifts with everyone even though it was at such a late hour and we had no time to play with them!

My classroom board

There is a good chance if you teach in Taiwan, you will have a responsibility to add Christmas into your lessons, and even if you don’t, it can be fun to do it anyway. In my school we had loads of Christmas activities to fit into our lessons, but no extra time given, so it has been very hectic. I enjoy adding Christmas into my lessons in small segments. It’s fun to do Christmas warm-ups, let the kids make Christmas team-names and sing the odd Christmas carol if you have time at the end of class. As I’ve mentioned, I brought an advent Calendar into class, this worked as good way to teach about Christmas, vocab, and as a great motivator for the kids; I should mention it wasn’t a chocolate calendar, just a normal one, I didn’t want to open that can of worms. One thing I would suggest is to make sure that you keep track of who has opened a window or it can lead to arguments. I’d also recommend decorating your room/s (if you’re allowed); make them a jollier and more welcoming place. My many Christmas jumpers also added much interest and intrigue (and Christmas spirit) to the classroom. My kids certainly enjoyed the decorations and jumpers, and they give you new and interesting examples to use in class. One fun thing I got to do during my Christmas lessons was prove the existence of Santa Claus to my class. My kids told me ‘he didn’t exist’, so I asked them ‘who gives me presents, as my mum and dad are in England?’ This worked as an unexpected teaching tool, as it made the kids name all the family members they could as they tried to work out who gives me presents. As they are all in England, my kids finally accepted it must be Santa (I’m not sure they all believed me, but at least they were confused about it).

I've got the gifts, run!

I will also warn you Christmas shopping can as/more brutal in Taiwan than in the UK. If you are buying normal things it is fine because people aren’t all buying presents, but if you are buying a Christmas themed gift it is another story. The stores by X amount of stock and it all goes quickly; Taiwanese people love Christmas things! I had been on a scouting mission for gifts to see what people would like and then I came back a week later without said people and it was all gone! So, if you want to buy Christmassy Christmas presents plan early and act fast!

Christmas can be great abroad, if you want to celebrate you can, if you want to ignore it you can, and if you just want to do what the rest of the population do… you can. Sometimes you may have to work longer, but generally the bosses of the schools are very understanding. They have loads of foreigners coming through and know the drill. Also, you may get to be Santa and that offer doesn’t come around too often! You have the opportunity to make Christmas your own; have it your way! Embrace this opportunity celebrate Christmas in your own style.

Santa at the North Pole

Last Year my mum sent me a reindeer head

If you’re worried about being lonely this Christmas (Mud, 1974), have no fear you can always find Christmas cheer! Drink, Sing and be Merry! I was a little concerned, especially, about my first Christmas, when I left home, that I would miss my family and feel alone. I don’t know if I’m strange, but I have never felt lonely abroad and maybe because of good cheer, even less so at Christmas. I have only missed home once and that was a few days after my family left when they came for a visit; probably because it reminded about having family around (and I found out my visa was getting cancelled in a week). With Skype and all the modern technology it is so easy to keep in contact with family at Christmas time and throughout year, so there is no need to fear. If you are a little worried remember, as long as you put a little effort in you can have a great Christmas time. I know I did!

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Hot Tea

Here are some strange Christmas snaps!