Apia Hotels
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Christmas Past
Entry 5 of 23 | show all | print this entry |
As far as family get togethers are concerned, I have missed every important holiday on the calendar at some point with the exception of Christmas. This was my first Christmas away. Having been fully aware of the consequences of moving to the middle of the South Pacific Ocean for almost two years now, I thought I was prepared for the effects of this absence.
I wasn't. Christmas in the tropics is interesting. People look forward to drinking in Samoa on this day. It is the only time of year here it is completely accepted that women get drunk. For such a Christian country on one of the most holy days of the year, I found this...well...let's just say interesting.
The town is pretty deserted as everyone is home with their families. Similar to the US in many ways. The days leading up to Christmas were packed with busy shoppers. Apia swells to about 50,000 additional people as many overseas Samoans come "home" to visit their families. This makes for a very interesting atmosphere.
In addition, growing up on the East Coast...I wasn't prepared for a "hot-as-hell" Christmas. I hadn't really thought about that. Sure, it is a tropical paradise. But when you really get down to it, it is home. Just like any other fantastic place you can live in. It has its pluses and minuses and let me tell you, no air conditioning in the pit of hell, otherwise known as the equatorial tropics is devastating.
On the otherhand, the fresh pina coladas I treated myself to were a bonus. Mine as well take advantage of some of the tropical cliche.
I spent Christmas at my house in Apia. Started out the morning jumping in the shower to cool off. Then hit the kitchen making myself a bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit and pina coladas. This is significant because I splurged on the bacon. And yes, that is a weird combination. I opened some gifts from my family. At that point I realized my family's call hadn't come in yet and knowing my Mom, she was panicking because she couldn't get through. I got up to the PC office and got a hold of her.
Speaking to my family made me realize how important it is to me to be with them. If there is one day of the year I believe I should keep sacred and be there for, it is Christmas. Sure, things may change someday with a family but I will try with all my power to get home for the holidays.
I spent the afternoon cooking corn pudding and green beans for Christmas dinner and playing/using/reading my gifts. The fans were on full blast and I took another two showers to cool off.
Heading out the door, side-dishes, Trivial Pursuit, Taboo and Cranberries in a can in tow, it took me a half hour to get a cab in a place where you normally literally have to shoo them away when walking!
After arriving in Vailele at Skye's, I was pleasantly surprised to see everyone there hanging out and tons of food lining the table. The evening was just what we all needed. We played a little beer pong, Taboo, and Guesstures.
Christmas wasn't bad. It wasn't good. It just was. I look forward to Christmas 2006.
Until then, Manuia le Krisimasi.
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