Merry Christmas!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

I finally spent my first Christmas here in America. Finally. Last night, it was with my Dad's side. Tonight, it was with my Mom's side. Both were great events loaded with fun, laughter, and FOOD. Unbelievable...

Anyway, when I compare Christmas here in America against that in the Philippines, I think Christmas in the Philippines is much more cheerful than Christmas in America. I don't know if this is just because back then, I used to be in school so I can feel the Christmas season by the 19th or 20th of December when Christmas vacation officially starts. Right now, now that I'm in the working world (and in America), Christmas just doesn't feel the same. I mean, I was working until the 23rd. It was only the 24th when I finally had my vacation - and that's required by law, I think. Since the 25th happened on a Saturday, most offices (except malls, retail, and sales) closed down to celebrate a Christmas holiday (thank God I already resigned from Macy's!). Also, the Christmas in the Philippines seems to be a one-week holiday beginning Christmas Eve to the New Year so for that one whole week, everything seems to be laid-back and relaxed due to a string of holidays (Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Rizal Day on the 30th, New Year's Eve, and New Year's Day) coming up. That's not the case over here. Here, Christmas seems to be just a one-day thing. And then New Year's Day is another. The point is, there aren't too many "vacations" here for those days. That day itself is the only holiday and that's it. Everyone goes back to work the next day. It's like there's not much importance to the occasion. Sucks, doesn't it?

So there. I kinda wished I was celebrating Christmas back in the Philippines so that I could feel the jolly and festive mood associated with the Filipino brand of Christmas but I guess I just have to make do with what I have. It's not really that bad over here. There's also this Christmas spirit present but it's just not as celebrated as the way it is in the Philippines.

Another contributing factor to my loneliness this Christmas may be the fact that most of my friends are all in the Philippines while I'm here all alone, save for some relatives. Relatives are okay but being with friends are much more fun. In the Philippines, with all the friends, there's always something to do, something to keep you busy. There's the nightlife and all that stuff that makes life a bit more interesting. Over there, there's more people to spend Christmas with than over here, I guess.

Okay, I guess I've painted a picture of a boring Christmas here in America with all those descriptions. To be fair, it's not really that bad at all. Christmas will always be Christmas, wherever you are. It doesn't matter where you celebrate it as long as you can have it inside you. I guess I'm just missing the kind of Christmas I used to have...