If you’re like me, you probably have a soft spot for the cheesiness and heart of Hallmark Christmas movies. Like clockwork, the characters embrace their hometowns, are changed for the better, and are filled with holiday cheer. While we probably aren’t running our family’s bakery or tree farm, there’s a part of all of us that dreams about being home for the holidays surrounded by our loved ones.
However, for military families like us that are stationed overseas, going home is often impossible when thousands of dollars and so many hours of travel time stand in our way. There is a level of loss and heaviness as we see our group chats and social media feeds filled with beloved traditions that we are forced to miss yet again. The holidays remind us, more than any other time of year, how much we miss.
That isn’t to say, however, that the holidays are always a blue season. In our two years in Guam, my husband and I have found joy by recreating our favorite traditions and forging new ones.
- Leaning on Friends
Like so many people, we found comfort in participating in a Friendsgiving this year. We traveled with three other families to nearby Saipan for a long weekend filled with food, friendship, and lots of time at the pool. We had the traditional fixings of turkey and stuffing, but there was also a sizeable sushi buffet and various island favorites. In a holiday centered around gratitude, we were thankful to have friends who have become our community.
Last Christmas, I travelled back home to visit my family, but my husband had to stay behind because of work commitments. I worried about him becoming lonely, but he was warmly included by his friends. From being welcomed into a family dinner on Christmas Eve to making a breakfast casserole on Christmas with two other friends who were away from their families, he made memories he still fondly recounts.
- Making New Traditions
During our first Thanksgiving in Guam, I felt discouraged and overwhelmed at the idea of making a traditional dinner with all the fixings just for my husband and me. My husband suggested that we take a trip during that long weekend and totally reinvent what we would normally eat. We took a short plane ride to Tokyo and ate endless courses of sushi on Thanksgiving. Immersing ourselves in a new city and culture helped us to create new memories, and we want to find ways to include sushi in all of our Thanksgiving dinners now!
- Finding the Familiar When You’re Far Away
While there is a lot that has changed in our lives, there are some simple things we have kept the same. We still set up our Christmas tree and enjoy viewing Christmas decorations. Whether it’s the giant Christmas tree at the mall, festive decorations in hotel lobbies (including an impressive gingerbread house), or watching a Christmas parade, there are familiar nods to home everywhere we look.
It might be over 80 degrees outside, but that doesn’t mean we can’t turn our television into a virtual fireplace and enjoy a cup of hot chocolate. I’m looking forward to baking Christmas cookies, wrapping presents, and attending Christmas Eve mass. The military takes so many things out of our control, but focusing on what we can is what makes all the difference.
While there’s nothing quite like being home for the holidays, military families know that home is wherever we’re currently stationed. In whatever country or continent we find ourselves in, we find new and familiar ways to make the holidays special.
Katie McDonald is a Navy wife, and she and her husband are currently stationed in Guam. After 5 years as an English teacher, Katie is currently working as a freelance writer and enjoys writing about books and travel.. https://www.katiereads.com/
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