This morning, as I was having my morning Costa Rican coffee and reading the paper, there was a small blip in the international section about the Independence Day of the United States of America. My immediate reaction was, “wait, today is the 4th of July?”
After feeling stunned for a moment about my pathetic lack of patriotic enthusiasm, I decided to call a few of my gringo buddies to find out if they were as clueless and I am. I was surprised to discover that most were well aware of the date and lamented the fact that they wouldn’t be spending the day heading to the lake, grilling hotdogs and lighting illegal fireworks in their neighbor’s driveway.
To feel like you are missing out on things when you are abroad is completely common, especially when it comes to holidays that are not celebrated in your host country. Sure there are fun celebrations in your host country that you experience, but certain holidays, such as Día de Juan Santamaría in Costa Rica(April 11th), who was the national hero that freed Costa Rica from America filibusters in 1856, isn’t much more exciting other than the fact you don’t have to go to school that day. The truth is, by being abroad, you will “miss out” on many events and holidays that are going on back home, and it is okay to feel a little upset about it. However, instead of sitting around and feeling sorry for yourself, go out, have a good time and celebrate your new dual citizenship. Translation: celebrate your American roots with the infused flare of your new country.
If you love a certain holiday or certain day, absolutely still celebrate it if you are abroad. Of course study abroad is about learning about another culture, but it is also about sharing your own culture with your new friends and family. After hearing all about Juan Santamaría, take your turn and tell your buddies all about good ol’ George Washington. Or at the least, grab your gringo buddies, grab a beer and toast to the 4th of July!
If you are coming up short, here are a few ideas how to celebrate holidays while abroad:
- Embassy Parties: Most foreign embassies will host parties for Americans who are living abroad. Many are exclusively for American citizens while others invite a variety of prominent national citizens. For information about your embassy, check out: http://www.state.gov/s/cpr/rls/fco/
- Head to an American sports bar or restaurant where you will likely find holiday-themed meals, deals or specials. There you can meet and connect with other American who are abroad. This is also a great place to catch up on some American sports if you have been missing them.
- Throw your own party/potluck and invite all of your gringo and local friends. Designate dishes to your American buddies and have your local friends bring the drinks. You can play outdoor games such as volleyball or soccer and possibly even light some fireworks, where legal.
For more information about Independence Day: check out fun facts and documents at http://www.usa.gov/Topics/Independence_Day.
shtml
Comment
RSS
Email
Print
