How was your holiday?
After greeting someone on the street, in the kombi, in the grocery store, at the crèche, in their home, on the soccer field, and anywhere else one might run into another person that is the question asked in the days and weeks after the Christmas and New Year’s holidays.
How was your holiday?
Ah, the holidays were too good I tell you.
But that is exactly what they seemed like, a holiday, a vacation, time off from work. Sure in a way that is exactly what our Christmas holiday is back in the United States for many of us as it gives us a break from school and work, allowing us to relax and enjoy the company of our family and friends. Here, we did the same things, took time off from work and gathered together with our families and friends. I had the pleasure of being invited to a friend’s home to spend several days with his parents, grandmother, brothers, sisters, children, nieces, and nephews, it was glorious.
While driving to Tzaneen, a town about an hour away from Masealama, I was asked what I thought of my South African Christmas so far. I explained that it really didn’t seem like Christmas yet because it was so hot (I was wearing sandals, a t-shirt, and shorts, not to mention, I was sweating). I miss the cold weather. Wearing a sweater to keep warm. Socks. Putting on a stocking cap when outside. Trenching through the snow, hearing it crunch under my feet. Oh but what I missed the most about the cold was coming into the warm house, being protected from that cold. In the house would be my family, doing our own family traditions.
As Christmas Day came along, the day seemed much like any other day here in South Africa. We started up the braai and cooked a smorgasbord of South African meats, plenty to go around, plenty of left-overs to eat throughout the day and night. We played miniature pool on the patio. We watched movies. We had conversation. We played games. In reality, apart from the weather, it was in a way, every bit the same as a Christmas back at home, playing games, eating, talking, and the standard, going to a movie on Christmas Day.
In the evening we opened presents. Now, every time there is some sort of gathering of people in South Africa (usually a wedding, funeral, birthday party, etc.) there is a program with an MC, opening presents on Christmas Day is no different. The program started off with welcoming all of the family, and me (although they treated me as family). The MC (one of the brothers) recalled to the rest of the family what I had said about my South African Christmas thus far. What struck him the most was my explanation of how I miss leaving the cold outside air and entering the warm house. He looked at me then, and promised me that I was doing just that right then and there. I was leaving the cold outdoors and entering their warm house, not warm from the fireplace or furnace, but warm from their hearts.
It wasn’t until this point that I truly missed my family and friends back at home this holiday season. Of course I miss everyone, but this made me wish I was at home with them ever more. It also made me so very thankful for the new family and friends that I have made here, which made me want to be here just the same.
My holiday sure was a good one. It was different in many ways, but in looking back it was much in the same. One I will be sure never to forget just how warm it was.
