Sandier Pastures

The holidays, specially Christmas is the time of giving, so the popular saying goes. I have been asked so many times during Christmas by relatives and even random neighbors back in my home town, “Where’s my gift?”, like I am obligated to give them every year just because I live and work abroad.

When I was still a student in Japan, I look forward to coming home every December for Christmas but whenever I go out, random neighbors whom I don’t even know (they only know either my father or mother) would ask me Christmas gifts and they pout if I just stare at them blankly and call me Scrooge. So I rarely go out of the house, afraid to bump on to people who have faulty eye sights and see me as the fat man in red suit shouting ho, ho, ho.

Looking back, I had long become Santa every year. I gave out things and gifts to my family, never expecting anything in return. On Christmas this year, just a few days ago, some relatives called and grumpily asked for their Christmas presents. I answered differently this time, “How about mine?”

“But you have everything already!”, came the expected reply.

I don’t know what made them think I have everything. If I have, then I would not be working 6 days a week. I would be home wrapping presents for them.

A simple Christmas card or email greeting or the cheaper SMS would have made me happy. A gift does not necessarily mean expensive or bought or wrapped. It’s the thought that counts.

For the first time in many years, I did something different on Christmas eve. I slept through it.

Oh, hold that thought. I have not become Scrooge or any of the characters in Nightmare before Christmas. I was sick. Seems like Santa came early and sprinkled flu virus in my chimney and sped away without telling me. I could almost hear him say flu!, flu!, flu! loudly.

So, Christmas eve was event-less and I didn’t wear a Santa suit even if I would really look good in one belly and all. We all slept - at least, the people in my room (Me, hubby and P). I don’t know what the people in the other room did. My meds kicked in real hard to make me aware of the goings on that night. When I woke up in the, my aunt was already here. I didn’t bother to ask around, I had no voice to be chatty on Christmas morning!

Whole day of Christmas was spent with me in my pajamas helping the babe in opening her gifts. I stuffed her Christmas stocking with some candies and biscuits and the lovely pink sandals she always wished. She was delighted of course but asked me:

“Mom, did Santa buy this in ___Center? (where I bought the shoes)”

I panicked just smiled. She knows!! But I didn’t give her an honest answer of course, I had no voice, remember?

On this Christmas day, I am thanking all of you who reads, visits and leave comments on my blog. May all of you find the true meaning of Christmas and have a great time with your family and loved ones. 

Merry Christmas from my home to yours.

P had a great birthday yesterday, I’d say one that is beyond my expectation. She was sick last Friday so we did not plan anything except to have a cake where she can blow her four candles, besides that, yesterday though a Sunday, was work for me.

Out of the blue yesterday afternoon, my aunt who work as a house helper for an Australian family here said she will be coming with her two wards. Whole day yesterday, P was still complaining of stomachache but when my aunt and the kiddies rang our bell, she sprang up to her feet!

She quickly forgot all about her stomachache and played and played. It was back to non-stop talking again. Looked like she had to have some friends around so she can forget about whining and sticking to my mom all the time and divert her attention to fun.

Last night we celebrated and tonight we’ll have some preparations again. Sometimes I wish I could have waited for another 24 hours of my already very long labor so that my family can celebrate our daughter’s and Jesus’ birthday altogether!

It’s Christmas eve, so what are you planning to do tonight?

Third part in the series of Christmas memes I am doing for this month. I hope you aren’t tired of these yet! 

1. Wrapping paper or gift bags? Bright wrapping paper! I love to see square glossy boxes under the tree.

2. Real tree or artificial?No other option for me - -  I live in the desert and the cactus isn’t a great idea for a Christmas tree so, artificial tree it is for us.

3. When do you put up the tree?When my mother (who lives with us) starts to whine and tell me it’s so un-Christian like of me not to decorate for Christmas!

4. When do you take the tree down? After January 7.

5. Do you like eggnog? Yes but we don’t have it. Not available here somehow.

6. Favorite gift received as a child? Any gift, EVER.

7. Do you have a nativity scene? Yes, below. It’s small but nevertheless:

8. Hardest person to buy for? My husband because we are talking here of a highly techie person who knows all the details and specs of stuffs when he wants to; searches the net for customer reviews so he could buy the one with the best quality. I always buy him inexpensive practical stuffs like socks, or ties or shirts he lack and tell him, Merry Christmas, open it but don’t say anything (ever) except thank you.

9. Easiest person to buy for? Me, of course. It is so easy to please me. Give me a simple planner every year and you’re guaranteed a kiss and an eternal bond of friendship!

10. Mail or email Christmas cards? Traditional Christmas cards, delivered by the post man, not by the Internet Service Provider.

11. Worst Christmas gift you ever received? I can’t recall, I must have gave it to my sister before I could categorize it as “worst”.

12. Favorite Christmas Movie? Love Actually .

13. When do you start shopping for Christmas? At the start of December, I guess. You would rarely see me doing the great Christmas rush.

14. Have you ever recycled a Christmas present? No.

15. Favorite thing to eat at Christmas? Nothing in particular.

16. Clear lights or colored on the tree? Before I’d go for colored but I have recently discovered how white lights on the tree can look so magical, especially if we turn off the lights in the house.

17. Favorite Christmas song? Christmas songs by the Carpenters

18. Travel at Christmas or stay home? At home of course.

19. Can you name all of Santa’s reindeers?Yes, I can and can put a tune to them too. You know there’s Dasher and Dancer and Prancer and Vixen, Donner and Cupid and Comet and Blitzen but can you recall, the most famous reindeer of all…Rudolph, the red nosed reindeer…! You’re singing with me, are you?

20. Angel on the tree top or a star? A star only because I wasn’t able to find an angel!

21. Open the presents Christmas Eve or morning? Christmas morning, depending on the little boss’s mood.

22. Most annoying thing about this time of year? Christmas trees and lights going on 75% sale on the second week of December, after I have bought mine.

23. Outdoor decorations?White lights on our plumeria tree in the balcony.

You can check out Christmas Meme #1 and #2 and see if you want to do them too.

You wouldn’t think much would be happening, don’t you? Considering this is Dubai, situated in the Persian Gulf in the Middle East with Islam being the official religion, I could not blame anyone who’d think expats in Dubai would have the most sober Christmas.

But think again, this is Dubai, a city that break almost all Middle Eastern stereotypes. Dubai is also home to a massive population of Western expatriates so this means that Christmas is celebrated here as well. The shopping malls scream Christmas and my next door neighbor (a Muslim from Lebanon) is decking her halls with lots of Chrismassy stuff!

Deira City Center, a mall we frequent on weekends had a gigantic tree at the center.

… and three bears with their musical instruments, as if providing tune to the Christmas song in the background.

More of the malls dressed in Christmas next time! We’ll be having a 4-day work off starting today and will surely be rounding up some malls. Maybe if we get lucky, Pristine could sit on Santa’s lap. Santa’s Dubai post is currently at Ski Dubai (indoor ski resort)  at the Mall of the Emirates.

I’ll be doing Christmas memes every Friday for the whole month! This is for the second week. 

1. Egg nog or hot chocolate?
Hot chocolate

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree?
I guess he wraps them. What else would he be doing the whole year round?

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white?
White

4. Do you hang mistletoe?
No

5. When do you put your decorations up?
On the first weekend of December.

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)?
Why exclude the most important part of Christmas dinner? My favorite holiday dish would be my mom’s homecooked ham.

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child:
Nothing I can remember. All holidays were my favorite - they were all the same.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa?
When I was 4, I used to play with the older kids in the neighborhood and they told me there was no Santa and it was actually their parents putting gifts under the tree or on stockings. Imagine the shock I felt!

9. Do you open a gift on Christmas Eve?
At the strike of midnight on December 24 or on Christmas morning.

10. How do you decorate your Christmas tree?
In two colors: red and gold.

11. Snow? Love it or Dread it?
Love to look at it, dread to live with it!

12. Can you ice skate?
No.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift?
Yes.

14. What’s the most exciting thing about the Holidays for you?
The music, decorations, unexpected Christmas cards, the cooler weather and gifts of course!

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert?
Not really limited to the holidays, I love rocky road ice cream we buy for Christmas.

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition?
Listening to Christmas music while staring at the lights of the Christmas tree and turning off the room light.

17. What tops your tree?
A gold colored Star

18. Which do you prefer – giving or receiving?
Making the perfect gift.

19. What is your favorite Christmas Song?
Merry Christmas Darling and The Christmas Song.

20. Candy canes?
No, I love my teeth too well.

Hopeful Spirit has tagged me to participate in this meme. It’s a little bit early for Christmas but here goes:

What is your favorite Christmas gift?

A planner for the next year.

What is your best memory of Christmas?

Years back when we always looked forward to Christmas children’s party at my father’s company. I would go there along with my many siblings and people will look at us because we all look the same.

I had happy memories of the gifts we brought home every year from that party.

Depending upon where you live, do you have a hot or cold Christmas?

I guess I am lucky to have experienced both. It’s a warm Christmas where I grew up, I spent white Christmasses in Japan and now back to warm Christmas here in Dubai.

What do you prefer in a tree? Fake or real?

I never had a real tree in my entire life so I can’t choose between the two. I am stucked to using the fake one.

What is your favorite Carol?

Jingle Bell Rock and… is All I want for Christmas counted as a carol? Because my daughter loves to dance Mariah’s jumpy Christmas tune.

What is your favorite Christmas Dinner?

My mother’s homecooked ham with thick sweet, pineapple sauce.

Do you wear a Santa hat at Christmas?

No, but my daughter does.

Have you ever seen Santa delivering gifts?

Yes, in the movies.

I am tagging:

All people who love Christmas!