Living in the States and always spending the holiday season in a shopping crazed and family oriented environment has made the past few months a bit different. I never realized just how consumer driven and commercialized the season had become until I was removed from the madness. I also never realized how much seeing family at this time of the year was refreshing to my soul. It is difficult for me to form an opinion on all this. Never being a huge fan of the hectic season, I do not miss some aspects of it at all. At the same time, I do oddly miss some things.
No crazed holiday sale stampedes. No black whatever day lines. No irritating radio and TV commercials. No kids screaming at the sight of a mall Santa. No traffic jams at the shopping centers. No tacky ties and sweaters. No pulling out and putting away of decorations. No long drives on I-55. No struggling to find proper cards and wrapping paper. No feeling guilty for not sending holiday cards. For these reasons, I don't miss the havoc of the season.
At the same time living half way around the world from family is more challenging than I ever expected. Not seeing my parents house lit-up like a winter wonderland is different. Catching up with family and friends will have to wait until June, not cool. I do miss the holiday food and eating until I need to nap. I really miss the season change and the cold air that can take your breath away, especially in Chicago. I miss proper dark, malty beers that warm my belly. Even though I am not a big fan of ice skating, I miss the sight of the outdoor rink in downtown Chicago. I miss snow. For these reasons, I do miss the holiday season.
It is more of a struggle than I expected to properly articulate how I feel right now. Skype, Facebook and email are just not proper replacements for the physical interactions and banter that I am craving.
Something I did not expect to see while living in Cambodia are over-the-top light displays. The light displays in Siem Reap are really fun. Some make no sense. Most are bright as hell. At a hotel down the street there is a old VW Beetle covered in lights in the middle of a sea of white lights. Lights in palm and coconut trees look odd but I kind of like it. I've never seen so many blinking lights. Heading into town is almost like a drive through the Shrine. Despite the lights there are no nativity scenes, emphasizing the commercial aspect to the holiday here. I've never felt Christianity was for me, but is that religion not the reason we have Christmas?
I don't know. Maybe one day I'll be able to properly explain myself, or maybe not.
To everyone back in the States, know that I truly miss you and will do my best to spend the proper time with all of you in June that I cannot right now.
No crazed holiday sale stampedes. No black whatever day lines. No irritating radio and TV commercials. No kids screaming at the sight of a mall Santa. No traffic jams at the shopping centers. No tacky ties and sweaters. No pulling out and putting away of decorations. No long drives on I-55. No struggling to find proper cards and wrapping paper. No feeling guilty for not sending holiday cards. For these reasons, I don't miss the havoc of the season.
At the same time living half way around the world from family is more challenging than I ever expected. Not seeing my parents house lit-up like a winter wonderland is different. Catching up with family and friends will have to wait until June, not cool. I do miss the holiday food and eating until I need to nap. I really miss the season change and the cold air that can take your breath away, especially in Chicago. I miss proper dark, malty beers that warm my belly. Even though I am not a big fan of ice skating, I miss the sight of the outdoor rink in downtown Chicago. I miss snow. For these reasons, I do miss the holiday season.
It is more of a struggle than I expected to properly articulate how I feel right now. Skype, Facebook and email are just not proper replacements for the physical interactions and banter that I am craving.
Something I did not expect to see while living in Cambodia are over-the-top light displays. The light displays in Siem Reap are really fun. Some make no sense. Most are bright as hell. At a hotel down the street there is a old VW Beetle covered in lights in the middle of a sea of white lights. Lights in palm and coconut trees look odd but I kind of like it. I've never seen so many blinking lights. Heading into town is almost like a drive through the Shrine. Despite the lights there are no nativity scenes, emphasizing the commercial aspect to the holiday here. I've never felt Christianity was for me, but is that religion not the reason we have Christmas?
I don't know. Maybe one day I'll be able to properly explain myself, or maybe not.
To everyone back in the States, know that I truly miss you and will do my best to spend the proper time with all of you in June that I cannot right now.
