Christmas Abroad

in Yangon

 For 2018, I was relieved to be away from the commercialism and false religion that is too widespread in the US for Christmas. Having grown up Jewish I found that having an outside view allowed me to see the hypocrisy of the birth of Yeshua (he wasn't born in December; there was no such thing as an Inn back then; he would die of a heart attack that we spent tons of money to buy material items; he was Jesus and never ate a ham and that he portrayed as white and blue eyes). I really struggle with the Christmas holiday and was thankful that we would be abroad. 

In a Buddhist country, where Buddhist philosophy is the way of life, it felt much more balanced. Yet with the throngs of tourists who flocked their cold homelands to celebrate Christmas in warm, tropical Thailand, there was no escaping Christmas decorations or celebrations.

I would be a hypocrite myself if I denied that in our family we do celebrate the holiday along with Hanukkah. I have to admit, I have grown fond of the pagan adopted tradition of the tree with it's ornaments. During the course of our family travels we have picked up some ornaments that would remind of a journey or occassion. Those along with some homemade ornaments or ones from Don's childhood allow us to reminisce each year over happy memories. But I always have a rebellious spot in my heart that keeps the truth about the holidays present, one that I have long taught the girls. I also use this mostly commercial holiday to buy the girls necessary items like clothing and shoes. I don't want them to think those things come easy and like attaching having necessities with special occassions. Because having good clothing and a proper pair of shoes is a luxury (my dad never let us forget that for his entire high school, he and his brother Norman, only had one pair of pants to wear. And that they shared a bed until they left home.)

Because the girls are used to waking up on Christmas morning and finding gifts (which have included a new bed, clothing and of course a fes toys), they were reluctant to go away. They were in support of my belated 50th celebration overseas but no Christmas morning? That was a tender topic. A few weeks before we departed, the girls and I went out a bought a small fake tree for our house. That helped. We had a feeling that tree might have gifts underneath when we returned (well the adults said that, the girls, esp Amara were not in agreement) but they still worried. Amara really (really) wanted a cell phone and Havana wanted a fitbit and they worried if Santa would remember them (and in my endeavors to share the truth, they know that Santa from really from Turkey not the North Pole!)

I have to admit, it was sweet to see the girls get so excited at the decorations at the hotel in Yangon and then later in Ko Chang. To further bring on the holiday vibe, the girls took a bunch of Don's socks and made stockings on Christmas Eve. Throughout the first part of our trip, the girls independently and secretly bought gifts for each other, Don and myself. They planned to put them in their stockings. What they didn't know was that I packed that cell phone and that Fitbit along with some items for Don. Those high priced items were coming from mom and dad. I/we wanted them to know that. Santa may leave gifts back home but the pricey items, that was us!

Christmas morning, on a hot, tropical beach was a special event. The girls were thrilled with their presents and deleted by the special treats the hotel made. We even saw a Thai Santa who passed out snowman decorated cookies. I was peaceful and content having the girls have their piece of Christmas in tact while not being immersed in the chaos of a commercial Christmas back home. In actuality, it felt more Zen. A win-win for all.