Christmas in Cambodia

The gifts wrapped in old magazine paper

A month late, but nevertheless I final got around to posting! It’s weird to say that this is the second Christmas that I had in Cambodia. That’s crazy to say because that means time flies too fast! I would say the hardest part of being a volunteer is being away from family during the major holidays. Usually back in the US, my family used to always fly from Atlanta to Texas to meet up with the larger family for the holidays. Christmas was one of those holidays that I always got to see all of my relatives and spend time with family in general. 

Now being in Cambodia it is way different, but nonetheless I would like to say that this Christmas was better than last Christmas. Last Christmas was one week after I arrived at my new town, so I did not know many people and was not comfortable with my host family yet. This year I went all out, with what I had and within reason. We drew a Christmas tree on a poster board. We made hot chocolate with canned milk (yes that’s usually what the milk is like) and chocolate candy that was in the shape of a tool box. We watched a Christmas Carol (only resulting in one meltdown from one host sibling because the other one drank her hot chocolate). And on Christmas day we opened presents (which were small presents I got for my host family). Similarly at my school, one of the teachers gave me a sweater as a Christmas gift and in return I also was able to get her a gift too. The temperature was the same as last year (70s in the morning and then high 80s in the afternoon) but I felt physically colder, usually leaving the house in a sweater and socks. I felt in a Christmas spirit this year (especially when I make food and jam out to Christmas tunes).

*Side note I will clarify too, I did Christmas in my way but am no way trying to push Christianity or Christmas onto others. Many of my students asked for “Christmas Homework” which I let them draw a tree, however I have not gone into religion about most of it. I am more focusing on the traditions of Christmas within my community. 

I was more in the Christmas spirit because I have had an overwhelming gratitude for the past year of my life. This is going to sound sappy, but it is true. With my Christmases past, I have always just thought about what my parents would get me for Christmas. I was always grateful, but looking back I feel selfish. When I was younger I would cry if William got more presents than me or if I did not get what I wanted. Even now, my younger host sister came into my room and was getting upset because she wanted to know if my host niece had more gifts than her. I responded to her to be grateful that for the gifts that she will get (and yes they do get the same amount-which I calculated so they wouldn’t get upset). When I was wrapping the gifts for my host family and teachers at school I felt so happy and excited for Christmas. Even if Christmas is not a major holiday in Cambodia (remember Cambodia is mainly a Buddhist country), this Christmas felt very special because I made it my own but also was able to reflect about what Christmas means to me. I know…sappy… but to me Christmas felt even more special because I spent it with my host family, who is like my real family, and they let me do things for Christmas because they knew it would make me happy. But not only have I become comfortable with my host family to celebrate my holiday, I think being here for over a year has made me reflect about my life and this is why I feel true gratitude for my life up to this point, as well as gratitude for being in the town I am in now and being in the community and family I am with.