Holiday Season Tips for New Expats, Home Away from Home

Making your new location ‘home’ for the holidays

Being in a new country before the holiday season can be overwhelming. Whether you have been in your new location for days, weeks, or months, I hope you can find ways to enjoy the season rather than just muddling through it.

The holidays can seem long depending on your location. They can stretch for several months, from November to February, based on which holidays you celebrate or those commonly observed in your location.

Regardless of what region of the world you live in and your personal traditions, I encourage you to participate in a few local festivities during the season.

My advice is to make it an opportunity for new experiences in your host country — customs, traditions, festivities, foods, and more. This does not mean you might not have moments of homesickness, loneliness, or even missing your loved ones.

Take feelings of excitement or sadness all in stride.

Ground yourself in the reasons why you moved abroad and the experiences you want to have along the journey.

Here are some practical ideas for celebrating locally and finding bliss in your new host location.

Gather your New Tribe and Celebrate

An excellent way to celebrate the holidays is by hosting events — happy hour, dinner, or brunch.

If you are living as a solo expat or with your family, turn your home into a place to gather with all your new friends. Have your guests share customs and traditions from their home country as an exchange.

Having people around helps minimize the feeling of homesickness. If you enjoy cooking or baking, then sharing foods from each other’s culture is one of the most festive ways to have the holiday spirit.

Make it Feel Like Home

Make it an adventure to make it feel like home. For example, trek through a variety of shopping malls or stores to find decorations around your town or city.

The ‘scavenger hunt’ type of shopping could also help you explore new neighborhoods and meet new people. Music is great to enjoy the season.

Find a local spot hosting holiday-themed music that is local or international for your listening pleasure. You could also make a playlist of your favorite holiday songs or use a live-streaming station from your home country.

Lastly, share your decorated home by gathering your new friends, and making holiday popcorn and cocktails while streaming a favorite holiday movie or playing games.

Have a New Perspective

Unless you are traveling back home, your holiday will have a different vibe. It will be different, especially if it is your first holiday season abroad.

Work on reframing your mind to accept the differences. For example, you might like the winter, snow, and ice skating but you are now in the tropics and it is humid.

You will need to dress differently, and that favorite holiday sweater might not be happening. Use it as decoration to keep as part of your tradition. It might be a difference in foods. You cannot get your peppermint spiced latte, and if you do, it just doesn’t taste the same.

Remember, it’s about shifting your mind to try new things and enjoy some of what you are experiencing.

Taking a realistic approach to your holidays abroad will help you avoid being disappointed. Do not set unreasonable expectations of yourself to make it just as if you were back home or to have the perfect holiday season.

Give yourself and your family flexibility to determine what works best for this year. Friendly reminder: have an open mindset; it will be different.

It is a fact that the holidays occur every year and while it might feel odd this year, keep in mind that the holidays will come again next year, and you will have another chance to make it the way you want it.

Your time abroad is a life-changing experience and a lifetime opportunity. It is also normal to feel homesick or overwhelmed around the holidays. Don’t let those feelings damper your ability to experience this new part of your life.

Experience a variety of new, locally-based, holiday traditions and enjoy your new surroundings. Make the most of your time by embracing and appreciating the holiday spirit around you — people, traditions, and customs. Enjoy your new place and create new traditions.

Wishing Everyone Season’s Greetings!

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Some additional insight can be found in the article, too - Four Ways to Embrace the Holiday Season Abroad