Even if you don’t celebrate the holidays, any expat can’t help but feel a longing for home at this time of year. Just about everywhere you go is Christmas-themed. Every other commercial on TV is advertising the best gift for your “supposed” significant other.
Maybe even your foreign friends and coworkers are going to their home countries over the break. For some, the most wonderful time of the year could also be the most isolated. But it doesn’t have to be this way. Here are a few tips for making the most out of your holidays away from home.
Reconnect With Your Foreigner Base
Each of us has various living and working situations. Yet it’s safe to say that most of us, especially the English teachers, probably live alone. Many of us are also in work environments which have little to no foreign staff. This is somewhat of an isolating situation, don’t you think?
Sometimes it just feels good to connect with those who shared similar cultural experiences growing up; especially when far away from home. I know at least for me, the holidays are an especially nostalgic time. Additionally, it just helps to have someone like you to relate to every so often. I have great relationships with my coworkers and Japanese friends. Yet they probably wouldn’t be able to relate to my unique gaijin experiences in the way another expat could.
So for your own sanity, get out of that one-room apartment and call up some of the local expats. You’ll be glad you did it. And they’ll probably be happy to see a familiar face. Lastly, while your at it, don’t forget to Skype the friends and family back at home too.
Reflect and Plan
Throughout the year it’s easy to get caught up in the daily stuff: a.k.a., work. Some of us may even spend more time in the office than in our own homes. A break in the eat, work, sleep routine is the perfect time to look back on the year’s experiences with a new perspective. Where have you been? Where are you going? What were the highlights of the year?
Some of us are only in Japan for a year or so, while others have planned to spend their lives here. Time flows at a weird pace when you’re an expat. A one year teaching gig could turn into five years right before your eyes. Taking the time to plan out where you want to go next can make the transition (either back home, or to a promotion here) much more smooth. Or as Seth Godin says, “If you hesitate to map out your future, to make a big plan or to set a goal, you’ve just gone ahead and mapped your future anyway.”
Go Somewhere New
Now I’m not suggesting spending your entire paycheck on a lavish vacation (although if you have the funds, by all means do so). I’m talking about going somewhere, anywhere you haven’t been before in Japan. This doesn’t have to be far from home, or even outside of your city. Just something that’s off the beaten trail of your daily life. Remember all those little things you thought about doing in 2014 but never got around to it? Now is your time! Before you know it, a new year will be here and you’ll be wondering where your time went. If you’re looking for some ideas, check out my affordable travel articles, or some of the many other travel articles on GaijinPot.
Well these are my tips for making the most out of your winter vacation in Japan. If you have any other tips for your fellow expats, feel free to leave them below. Enjoy the break and have a Happy New Year!
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