Surviving Christmas away from home
If this is your first Christmas away from home, you're going to want a phone card with a lot of credit. Even if you don't get homesick, you're not missing anyone: If you've never been away from friends and family at Christmas - it's going to be tough getting through the holidays. And even for the seasoned traveller, you haven't been home for years and you probably won't be home for years more, a new country, new customs and new friends makes every year a challenge.
So here we've got some tips and tricks for not only surviving the commercial extravaganza that is the December holiday season we're going to make damn sure you enjoy it.
Plans a trip
You are a backpacker after all and it only makes sense. You're best bet is to go for a package as this gives you a stress-free version of the season. You've got new friends to celebrate with and all the arrangements to keep you happy and entertained will already be taken care of. One of the easiest and most laid-back holidays you'll probably ever have. Predominantly Muslim countries are especially good choices when looking for where to head as their day-to-day life isn't in complete upheaval and you'll be free of the holiday propaganda so you have nothing left but to enjoy yourself. Of course, like everywhere else, prices go up at this ever important time of the year. So if you're still counting every penny, this may not be the best option for you.
Do some charity work
If you're staying in one spot for a while why not consider giving your time back to someone less fortunate to you. The Christmas period is stressful and lonely for a lot of people, not just those off seeing another part of the world. Contact your local non-profit organizations, homeless shelters, hospitals, retirement homes and find out what you can do to help out. This gives you an activity, a cause, a sense of the season and a network to meeting new people.
Phone home
Feeling a little homesick at the best of times, not to mention what the holidays are going to do to you: Make connection with family the top priority of the day. International phone cards and internet cafes will become your best friends as you try to reconnect with as many people as you can manage. It's probably a good idea for you to keep a fairly low-profile going out may just make life that much harder for you: rent some movies or If you're in a hostel take advantage of all the other people in a similar situation. Not just those sharing a room with you, but also the ones behind the reception desk as most hostels are run by internationals. Buy a bottle of wine and some cheap holiday snacks from the local grocer and bond over your desire to be somewhere else.
Find a new family
Another idea is to search online travel communities for your new holiday family. A few years ago a friend of mine found herself in Thailand a few days before Christmas, not the type to get homesick Kristin wanted to celebrate the holidays and so she checked out her local online traveller's community and found an invite to a big, vegetarian friendly Christmas dinner with a bunch of ESL teachers living in Thailand. She made loads of friends, had a fantastic dinner, got a bit tipsy and even managed to get a free bed for a couple of nights. Not bad at all. There are bound to be options like this throughout the world as there are few places left where you'll be the only forienger around. Need a jumping off point for your travel communities, check out our Backpacker Resources on http://www.st-christophers.co.uk/backpacker-resources/travel-tips/travel-communities.
Join a group activity
If you enjoy being with people, join a club, go to their Christmas function, or perhaps go on an organized 'specialist' holiday that matches your interests and passion.
