Cubicle Throwdown

tales of a serial expat

‘Home Alone’ and Coconut Rum: An Expat Christmas

by

Even though this is my second Christmas abroad, it’s really my first expat Christmas. Remember last year how I ran away on a megayacht on Christmas Eve? And then didn’t come back for two months? I don’t know if that really counted as an expat Christmas last year since I was on a fancy boat drinking endless champagne (woe is me).


This year I am at my house, by myself, working as usual. When your job caters to people on vacation, you don’t get holidays off.

christmas at my ‘office’.



I’m not going to lie, it’s totally weird seeing everyone’s pictures and Facebook posts about snow, office Christmas parties, family dinners, wrapped presents and reuniting with old friends while home for the holidays. While they do celebrate Christmas on Roatan, it’s not the big deal it is in North America and since most of the economy relies on tourism, they are used to working on Christmas (sacrilege in Canada unless you work at 7-11 or a hospital) . And also, um, it’s like a billion degrees and I’m at the beach sweating my tits off.


So when my friends and family back home ask what I’m doing for Christmas, I usually just say, “oh, working”. In reality, I’m updating my Facebook feed and Instagram every five minutes and pining over Christmas cookies, eggnog (it’s called ‘rompopo’ here which is relatively festive but it’s not for Christmas and available year-round so the charm is lost a bit, I think), watching How The Grinch Stole Christmas, snuggling with dogs, playing in the snow and waking up on Christmas morning and taking part in whatever weird traditions your famjam likes to do. I’d like to be at my parents’ house in Canada with everyone for about 3 days right now. But then I’d like to get the hell out of the -47C cold and snow! Ain’t nobody got time for that.


Since I can’t do that, here’s the real answer to what I’m doing for Christmas here: I’m watching Home Alone on Netflix and not caring how much 3G data it’s eating, I’m going to try Skyping my family about 84 times until they answer, I’m drinking coconut rum, I’m sitting on my deck looking at the ocean in perfect 28C weather, I’m still all salty from snorkeling in the sea all day with happy families on holiday, I’m going to make the one steak I’ve had all year (because I can only afford it once a year), and then I’m going to sleep in tomorrow…until 9am when I have to go to work and teach people how to scuba dive, because that’s what they wanted for Christmas and it’s my job. Welcome to an expat Christmas.



‘home alone’ with spanish subtitles in the jungle. the ocean is overexposed, but i promise it’s back there in the white space.





Merry Christmas, internet people. Hope you all get what you wanted from Santa. I asked him for a Kindle Fire HDX and a ticket to this Roatan dream home giveaway, because what I really want for Christmas is to never drive to work in -47C ever again in my whole fucking life. 



Thank you to everyone who voted for me in the Expat Blog Awards 2013! I won the silver medal, which is still last because there was only Amanda and I who entered from Honduras… but still! Silver! Woohoo!


Guys, make sure to follow me on Facebook and Twitter … there’s lots of extras posted there that don’t make it onto the blog. (I also have Google+ if anyone even uses that?) Plus it makes Santa bring me more coconut rum (and hopefully a Kindle Fire HDX). So there’s that.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Sally B says

    Hahah Rika, I also entered the expat contest and got gold, which wasn't that impressive either because there was only one other person who submitted for South Korea… I feel ya.

    Merry Christmas several weeks late! Pretty sure I spent last Christmas doing the exact same thing, nothing. It's just a day after all. No worries. 🙂

  11. Shannon O'Donnell says

    I remember my first time in Chiang Mai celebrating Christmas as an expat and it was odd to see a light version of all the traditions that would have been in place if I was back home… like you I jonsed for sweets and family time, but that view is gorgeous and I have no idea what -47C is in F, but it sounds terrible, so my vote is that you got the best end of the bargain. 🙂 Hope you have a happy expat New Years too!

  13. http://theroamingcoconuts.com/ says

    Haha sounds pretty much like what my friends and I did leading up to Christmas in Chiang Mai. Lots of movies, and lots of paper snowflakes. Hope you survived!

  14. Alex says

    I had my first expat Christmas this year as well. I have never watched so many movies in my life. I also spent some time feeling sorry for myself (although I have nothing to actually complain about). How do the holidays do that to you? Oh well, glad it's over and I can look forward. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

  15. Chrissann says

    Great post, so relatable – Christmas on a rock makes you miss the real world up North – for about a day. Thankfully, we survived another expat Christmas and now we can laugh it up while everyone else is stuck in the snow. Cheers, Rika! 😉

  16. Agness says

    I can totally relate to it. It's strange to be so far away from home and work on this special day, but the nice weather can make your day :). Love the Christmas tree in your office. Merry Christmas and best wishes for 2014 from China!

  17. Charlotte says

    Merry merry Christmas!
    I know how hard it is to be an expat at Christmas – especially one who can't get home. But you're living the dream! Wish I could be diving with you today! Have a good one and enjoy that steak! x

  18. Must for Wanderlust says

    Aw merry xmas! 🙂 I'll be doing the exact same with the Skyping 84 times until my fam answers. As much as I love Ireland & am ridiculously happy to celebrate xmas with friends here, I too would like to just visit home for these 3 days 😉 x