At Thanksgiving we were invited by fellow American teachers to join them in a get-together in Hà Nội over Christmas weekend. I was surprised to discover that I didn’t want to go to Hà Nội for Christmas. I was very surprised.
I enjoy going to Hà Nội. There is shopping for Western things not available in Hue. There is shopping for Việtnamese crafts and art not available in Hue. There are American friends in Hà Nội. Why didn’t I want to go?
I want to spend Christmas at home this year. Huê, home? Well, yes, it is my home right now. I
don’t really want to travel over the holidays. Could it be that in my dotage I am less enamored by travel? I hope not, but secretly wonder if that’s true. But never the less, I want to discover what Christmas is like here.
I have spent Christmas in many places. My first Christmas away from home was on an Army post. A pretty nice Army post – the Presidio of San Francisco – but an Army post, none the less. And I worked on Christmas, because usually the singles worked on Christmas and the marrieds worked on New Year’s Eve. Made good sense, and was a good distraction. But not easy.
The next Christmas I was overseas on an Army base, ironically, here in Việt Nam. Anything but easy. I missed my family, but I was a grown person, and did not pine away for the smells and warm fuzzy feelings I had to do without that year. And besides, that was my first Christmas with virtual-doug.
Boy, that changes everything. The next year I spent with my family and virtual-doug; it was my transition year. And ever since, we have been together for Christmas. Some years with his family, some years with mine, but together.
Some years it was in a new place – Brunswick, Albuquerque, McAllen – without family and only new friends. Again, not easy, but I was with virtual-doug.
And it will be again this year.
My students ask, “Won’t you miss your family at Christmas this year?” And I answer, “Yes, I will.” But I will really be home for Christmas this year, because home for me is where virtual-doug is. And that’s in Huê this year.
xoxo - MGB