For our second Christmas Away from Home series, we feature three iSTORYAns (the three happen to be site moderators as well, didn't see that connection before!) who are working/living in Australia. Let's read their stories and remember that if you wish them and other Australian OFWs a Merry Christmas, there's no harm in greeting. You can use the comment box below.
Perth Christmas, photo courtesy: thisbe.ara
iSTORYA.NET Nick: Cottoncandy
Full Name: Janice Ibarra- Bacalso
City/Country outside the phils: Sydney, Australia
Occupation: Assistant Accountant
How many years are you working/living there? 2 years +
Working in Sydney for two years makes you want to embrace the internet for its existence. Imagine if there is no internet and you get to be here far away from your family on special occasions, it must be very sad!
I stay in touch with family & friends in so many different ways especially on Christmas Day! I would give them a call but most of the time I’d prefer to communicate through the Internet. (Thank God there’s Internet!). It saves me a lot of costs obviously! Either I send out emails, send messages thru various social media: Facebook , Twitter, iSTORYA.NET(of course!) or shoot them a message in YM/Viber. I do a lot of Skyping too. It has definitely improved the way we communicate with the integration of voice & IM. At least I can see how they celebrate Christmas at home---REAL TIME! We just talk, type and show what we want and videochat-all-we-can, seamlessly. It’s like celebrating with them, makes me feel I’m home and miss them less on Christmas!
We organize something on Christmas Eve with my hubby’s family and our friends too. We hear Christmas mass and usually go on a family picnic the next day.
It’s the same in a way as how we celebrate it back home. What makes it different is that the Christmas spirit is not felt as much here...the feeling just sinks in on Christmas Eve when we gather together. I just got lucky that I get to spend it with my hubby’s big (humongous!) family and friends which makes it a grand, fun party on Christmas Eve. We also exchange gifts, play games, prepare a lot of Aussie & Filo food, do videoke... and drink like there’s no tomorrow. It would be a different story if it’s only me and my hubby here.
There are a lot of things to miss about Christmas in Cebu - very festive and very vibrant. The Christmas spirit is felt as early as September—only in the Philippines! I miss hearing Christmas carols & seeing colorful Christmas decors everywhere you go. I definitely miss the feel of that mad Christmas rush not to mention going gaga over last minute Christmas shopping for presents. A lot of parties & reunions = lot of gastronomic activities... Oh how I miss Cebu lechon on this occasion!!!
More than anything else, I miss my family and friends. It will always be a merrier & crazier Christmas with them around. I don’t think it will ever be the same anywhere else.
Read Stories 2 and 3 in the next pages...
Let's talk (iSTORYA ta)!: Friends, if you have relatives and/or friends in Australia, shout out your Christmas greetings to them! It's not much but it sure balms the heart.
Sections
Recent Articles
vBulletin Message