First Christmas Away from Home
By Toni
@toniganzon (72285)
Philippines
December 16, 2012 4:27am CST
This is my first ever Christmas that I'll be away from home and no I'm not sad yet. I don't want to get depressed so I don't want to entertain the thought that I'm away from my husband and my son a very special holiday. So I try to keep myself busy.
In this foreign land, Christmas day is not a holiday at all and that means I'll be working. But there's going to be an activity in the school and I was asked to sing or dance. I don't have the voice to sing and I could dance. The idea of dancing in front of foreign people freaks me out though and that's been a burden for me from the time they told me I must.
Right now I'm just thinking of excuses on how to get away from dancing on Christmas day!
What will you be doing during the holidays?
1 person likes this
13 responses
@kevin1877uk (36988)
•
7 May 16
2012 Christmas was good, I hope you had a good Christmas that year. Last Christmas 2015 was a lonely one for me.
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@kevin1877uk (36988)
•
7 May 16
@toniganzon I'm sure it was, being in a country with no English.
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@toniganzon (72285)
• Philippines
7 May 16
@kevin1877uk It was stressful but was able to find ways to enjoy myself. Bangkok has the most beautiful sun rise. I saw more sun rise there more often than sun set.
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@toniganzon (72285)
• Philippines
7 May 16
I spent Christmas with friends that time who helped me survived in a country where people don't speak English at all. It was tough.
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@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
21 Dec 12
Yes, do not let sadness creep over you Toni. If you do, depression will follow.
But at any rate, at least you will be working on Christmas so it will not be noticed. Although i am sure your husband and son will be calling you via Skype or FB.
Oh just dance, Toni. As long as you know how to groove , you are okay. I believe they are not good dancers anyway. 
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@toniganzon (72285)
• Philippines
9 Jan 13
They don't celebrate Christmas but they do celebrate the New year's eve with a count down similar to that in NYC!
@toniganzon (72285)
• Philippines
31 Dec 12
Hello D! I've missed you! Anyway, I didn't dance. You know, i dance sexy and i don't want to attract any Thai men at all. I attract them like magnets already and if i were to dance, they would be drooling! Not a good idea!
Anyway, I survived Christams and i was ok. Now it's the new year's eve and i will be alone. I'll be on face time with my family. I don't like facebook so i'm hardly on it.
Have a happy new year D! Would love to meet you if you were to visit Bangkok. Message me if you have any plans ok.
Anyway, I survived Christams and i was ok. Now it's the new year's eve and i will be alone. I'll be on face time with my family. I don't like facebook so i'm hardly on it.
Have a happy new year D! Would love to meet you if you were to visit Bangkok. Message me if you have any plans ok.@SIMPLYD (90722)
• Philippines
31 Dec 12
Aha i thought you are in the US Toni? So, you are in Bangkok! Don't they celebrate New year there? I thought for every country they celebrate that, because it's after all the change of the year.
I miss you here also Toni. Actually, there are others i haven't seen here anymore.
But anyway, just be on face time with your family. So, when can you get them to be with you there already?
yes, i will PM you in case i happen to go there. 
@allen0187 (58444)
• Philippines
22 Dec 12
nice to see you starting discussions again toni.
care to fill me in on what has happened to you the past couple of months? you know where to send the email.
keep in touch.
cheers!!!
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@allen0187 (58444)
• Philippines
1 Jan 13
hi toni.
nice new pic for your avy. you look better with your mask on. lol!
i'm kidding.
i read your email, it wasn't that long of a read. hahahahahahahahaha!
i knwo your life is exciting regardless of where you are. isn't 'excitement' one of your middle names toni? i understand about you missing friends and loved ones. anyway, it won't be that long and you'll see yourself packing up your bags again and returning to ilo-ilo... back to the warm embrace of your son and among the revelry of your friends.
i'm chinese so technically, my new year starts on february. for this year its february 10 so save your new year's greeting at that time.
be safe toni and do keep in touch. you know how to reach me.
cheers!
i'm kidding.
i read your email, it wasn't that long of a read. hahahahahahahahaha!
i knwo your life is exciting regardless of where you are. isn't 'excitement' one of your middle names toni? i understand about you missing friends and loved ones. anyway, it won't be that long and you'll see yourself packing up your bags again and returning to ilo-ilo... back to the warm embrace of your son and among the revelry of your friends.
i'm chinese so technically, my new year starts on february. for this year its february 10 so save your new year's greeting at that time.
be safe toni and do keep in touch. you know how to reach me.
cheers!@toniganzon (72285)
• Philippines
31 Dec 12
My dearest Allen, oh how i've missed you! I'll send you an email after this and it's gonna be a lengthy one so prepare your reading glasses.
My life here is pretty exciting but I miss hanging out with my friends back home, and I miss my son the most! I get to talk and see him online though almost everyday.
Email coming your way. Happy new year, Allen!
@Rick1950 (1575)
• Lima, Peru
16 Dec 12
Hi Toni, it is a pity if you won't spend Christmas with your family. You know that it is a celebration with the family. Anyway I expect that you spend a really nice Christmas day and if you don't like the idea to dance then don't do it. You are very smart and you'll find the properly excuse. Again merry Christmas and have a great time.
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@toniganzon (72285)
• Philippines
19 Dec 12
It is a pity indeed, but I don't want to be too emotional thinking about it. Some friends are here and they'll surely cheer me up on that day.
Yeah, i would find an excuse indeed not to do it.
@ARIES1973 (11426)
• Legaspi, Philippines
16 Dec 12
Hi toni!
I admire the courage that you have. Yes, keeping yourself busy can be the best thing to do. Merry Christmas!
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@toniganzon (72285)
• Philippines
19 Dec 12
Thank you! It's the best I can do at this very moment. To have that courage to stay strong despite being away. I can't allow loneliness to get the better of me.
@roshigo58 (4859)
• Pune, India
28 Dec 12
I feel very very sorry for you. But don't get upset, its a challenge of life before you. Just accept it and face it bravely. And if you could dance then why do you hesitate, just go ahead. So that you can mix up with new people and will be comfortable slowly with the new routine.Cheers and best luck .
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@toniganzon (72285)
• Philippines
31 Dec 12
Hi! I'm not upset. I'm good at blocking emotions and finding ways to escape loneliness during this season. I'm used to it.
And the dancing? No i didn't dance. Even though I can, I just don't want to. But I did join the activity as one of the emcees.
@xtedaxcvg (3189)
• Philippines
16 Dec 12
I was supposed to be away from my family this Christmas day but not on a foreign land. It's just that I would be working on Christmas day and I'll be going home past Noche Buena. Fortunately, I found a way to leave work on that day and I will know the result tomorrow. For me, family is more important than career so what would a little absence do to me if it means I'll be with my family this Christmas eve.
@toniganzon (72285)
• Philippines
19 Dec 12
AT least you could do that. I can't.
Family is important to me as well, but there are times when you really have to make sacrifices. Besides, I can make any day a Christmas day when I am with them.
@asliah (11137)
• Philippines
29 Jan 13
hi,
the first and last time that i was away from home during Christmas was last 8 years ago,when i had a Chinese boss and he invited me to be with them in Subic,that was never been my sad Christmas because i was far with my family,i still enjoyed it with my boss.
@alberello (4752)
• Italy
16 Dec 12
Well, I understand you perfectly. Christmas, the day that the whole family and various relatives should meet for a classic dining you find yourself in a foreign land away from your loved ones.
You see, however, not to fall into depression, this is very important for you!
I accept your place to sing and play for the school, in my opinion, a way to distract yourself and thus feel less far from home.
As for me, the feasts of Christmas, I spend as I always spent every other day. Surely the day before going to the Holy Midnight Mass, and the next day I'll be with my parents.
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@toniganzon (72285)
• Philippines
19 Dec 12
I will just try to seek fun to avoid depression. I can't let it beat me.
@dsw313 (320)
• Philippines
16 Dec 12
i definitely understand how you feel, this will be my fist time too, to be far from my family, especially my children, I decided to work abroad for their future, although I can talk to them almost everyday thru skype and facebook, I am longing for their embrace and kisses, but I just keep myself busy and set my mind that all of this hard work are for them. I think I'll be celebrating my xmas in the office too. :)
@toniganzon (72285)
• Philippines
19 Dec 12
Kudos to the moms who sacrifice for their children's future! My friends told me we should have dinner on the Christmas eve so I won't be that lonely. I told them I'm going to be ok even without dinner. But maybe I'll heed their advice.
@skyandgrassplot (1497)
• China
17 Dec 12
You are a strong girl really,usually when a girl leave away her husband and kids she will miss her family very much in Christmas season.
But regarding to the dance thing,I am curious and why not you just join that dance?Because I think that can have a dance in Christmas will be very good and happy,do you think so?
@toniganzon (72285)
• Philippines
19 Dec 12
Dancing with the crowd is no problem with me, but dancing on stage in front of an audience is a totally different thing. That is something that I don't have the courage to do.
@csabaholcz (843)
• Hungary
16 Dec 12
Don't take Christmas to serious! You can't meet with your friends and family on another day? Eat something together?
@toniganzon (72285)
• Philippines
19 Dec 12
Like I said I'm in a foreign land. Of course I'll meet them again in March when I'm on vacation.
Not taking christmas too seriously, but you cannot avoid the hussle and buzzle that you see around you during that season. My heart's not made of stone after all. But I know hot avoid loneliness during that season and I know I can make any day a Christmas day when i get home.
@devonavis (1854)
• Greece
16 Dec 12
Why not accept the challenge. These people believe in you that is why they chose you. I think it's Christmas so why not share a joy even if you are in a foreign land. These might add your friends there and might lessen the depression you are feeling.
Merry Christmas!
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@toniganzon (72285)
• Philippines
19 Dec 12
If it's dancing with a crowd, I wouldn't mind at all. But performing on stage in front of an audience is something that I really couldn't do. Besides, I'm not that really good at dancing and I don't want to embarrass myself. I will be there during the whole activity though so meeting new friends won't be a problem.
