If you’re traveling or teaching abroad, chances are you’ve missed a holiday at home. Sometimes holidays pass without you noticing, but other times you miss the cookies, the family time, and the traditions that make each holiday complete. You might start to feel like you’re missing out on something at home. I’ve been there. I have eaten at Sizzler in Thailand (somewhere I’ve never dined at in the States!) on Thanksgiving, had pad thai for Christmas dinner, and had to search within my camping backpack for a ‘costume’ on Halloween in the backcountry of California. It’s different, it’s fun, okay, it’s kinda fun. You still miss home, family, and tradition, but hopefully these five tips will have you missing all that a little less. Over the years, I’ve come to realize as much as I don’t really care about holidays, they are still meaningful and it’s always good to treat that day a bit differently when it comes around.
Plan an Epic Adventure – This is definitely my favorite way to spend a holiday away from home. Plan something so awesome and amazing that you will remember that day as the best holiday for years to come. Climb a volcano, zipline through the jungles of Thailand, or try SCUBA diving for the first time, whatever you do, do it big. On future holidays you’ll be able to look back at your expedition with a smile as you tell your friends and family about it. Sharing your stories on the anniversary of the day will allow you to realize that while you may have missed one holiday at home, there will be many more to celebrate with family and friends
