7 Steps to a Wonderful Christmas Abroad

       * Yes, I am aware it is already February.

       * No, that doesn't mean it's too late to blog about Christmas. 

    Ahhem. I have found that spending your first Christmas abroad away from family requires you to do it right (if you are to avoid an excess amount of homesickness and I-should-be-eating-homemade-fudge-right-now type thoughts). And doing Christmas right abroad requires a few essential materials: Good friends, access to pizza, french toast, and coffee, a beautiful city to explore, and a paper Christmas tree. Here's some easy to follow (maybe) steps to help you have as wonderful of an abroad Christmas experience as I did this past December. 

Step 1: Make a Paper Christmas Tree.

           This is the first AND most important step. Because what is Christmas without a highly decorated Christmas tree? No suitcase-sized evergreens around? No problem. Green construction paper and some tape will do the trick. 

Note: Take this paper Christmas tree with you everywhere. Though we got some laughs, I'm pretty sure everyone actually just really enjoyed this extra bit of Christmas spirit, even if it was taped to what may have been a palm tree. 

Step 2: Get Your Mom to Send You a Ridiculous Amount of Gifts From America in the Mail. 

    Okay, it wasn't quite that many packages - but I honestly barely made it back to Gorkha on the local bus with the two giant packages she sent!

Thanks, Mom! :)

Step 3: Wrap Said Gifts in Newspaper to Give to Your Wonderful Host Family (and Make Paper Stockings to Boot!)

 .... because Christmas is more beautiful when you share it. Especially with a family who has never been told they have to wait to open their presents before. Surprises are especially fun in a culture that doesn't celebrate with them in the same way we do in the US. It was a little difficult to keep Sachina from opening all of the packages at once, but well worth it in the end.

     We made hot chocolate with our fresh local buffalo milk, turned on some holiday music, and watched the happiness of a first Christmas unfold.

Step 4: Get Yourself to a Lake and Eat Some Dang-Good American Food

           For this step, good friends highly enhance the experience. Also advised is a 10-minute version of Secret Santa where you buy each other a mixture of cheap gifts from tourist shops mostly consisting of over-sized wool hats and socks. 

"Friends in life are those that make you laugh a little louder, smile a little brighter, and live a little better."

Step 5: Go on an Awesome Excursion.

         I don't completely recommend getting lost in the woods and following a local gathering wood up a non-existent path for 40 minutes and then separating from her to trek off in the direction she claimed the trail to be. However, hiking and going on an amazing excursion I do recommend. We did find the trail, eventually. And... despite getting stabbed by the thistles of a thankfully non-poisonous caterpillar, we had a very relaxing hike to the beautiful World Peace Pagoda overlooking all of Pokhara. The best part of adventuring on Christmas is that you don't feel like your missing out on too much back home (heck yes I want to see an amazingly stunning view from a mountain in Nepal instead of being at home for Christmas - Sorry, Family! I love you!)

Also, you know you are doing Christmas right when you are pleasantly surprised

by wild Poinsettias blossoming everywhere!

Step 6: See the Sunrise (on the Himalayas if at all possible)

        This is quite possibly one of the most incredible experiences I've had while being in Nepal. First of all, the Himalayas are breathtaking by themselves. But when the rose-colored light of the sun is just painting their white tips in the first breaths of the morning - this creates a moment in time completely indescribable. The stunning view, seemingly just an arm-reach away from where our feet were placed beneath us, reminded me to never settle for anything less in this world. Anything less than beautiful, astonishingly amazing, breath-taking life. To never settle for anything less than being fully alive in every way possible. 

Extra bonus: Have a cup of milk tea while watching the sunrise on the Himalayas.
Does life get any better than this?

Step 7: Call Your Family and Appreciate All You Have.

     And of course, if it's Christmas, and you are away in a foreign country without your family, the most important thing to do (alongside making a paper Christmas tree) is to call your family and tell them how much you love them. Because even the best American food, even seeing sunrises, having crazy adventures, and being surrounded by good friends doesn't fully make up for how much you miss them. And it's important to let them know - whether it's for the millionth time or not - that you love them dearly, that they are your support system, your sunshine, and who you'll always be thinking about every single Christmas and every single day you are away. 

       When spending Christmas abroad, love all that is around you and all that is far away. Appreciate all you have, and celebrate the life around you. It is a very special thing. So enjoy it. And if that means ordering dessert at every single restaurant you go to, then do. 

Wishing you all love, laughter, and amazing adventures in the new year.