It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas here in Hong Kong. No snow frosts the trees, the temperature barely dips below 50 degrees, yet the air is infused with that unmistakable holiday spirit: the scent of a sale at the mall. And indeed, the malls are absolutely packed with shoppers laden down and toting bag after bag, each one stuffed to bursting.
Hong Kong Chinese have embraced seasonal consumerism with a zest that can only be described as well, festive. From photo ops with mall Santas to fake trees dripping in delightfully tacky snowglobes and twinkle lights, it’s almost like being home for the holidays. I’ve even heard Justin Bieber Christmas carols.
[Photo: A Christmas tree in a nearby mall]
Spending holidays away from home is one of the drawbacks of Global. Halloween in India was a little weird, with half-melted candy and hastily assembled costumes out of trash bags and toilet paper. Thanksgiving here in Hong Kong was bittersweet, even with a delicious lunch of turkey and mashed potatoes – complete with cranberry sauce! But spending Christmas in Shanghai? It will be surreal to say the least.
I’m proud to say that I got my act together and remembered to mail presents home that (fingers crossed) will make it in time. Although it’s a little embarrassing that shipping cost more than actually buying the gifts themselves. And I got to open my presents early! Finally a childhood dream fulfilled with the arrival of a box from home, with parental permission and encouragement to open it before Christmas. We literally LIVE for mail on Global, especially packages.
[Photo: The care package I got from home!]
Last night we saw The Nutcracker Ballet at the Hong Kong Cultural center, a favorite holiday tradition for many of us. And even though this will be my first Christmas without my family, I know I’m not alone. It’s the biggest cliché of studying abroad that the people you’re with become your family, but it’s also true. We’re all missing our families and friends, which only inspires us to constantly find new ways to make this holiday season special. We might be eating dim sum and going to horse races instead of munching on Christmas cookies and sledding down Old Main, but St. Olaf and home are never far from our thoughts.
It’s been a wonderful experience for me to write for Her Campus St. Olaf this semester, and I wish you all a happy holidays!
*Catherine O’Connor ’13 is on Global for first semester and J-term. She majors in Asian Studies with a concentration in Chinese.