studentsineurope

6 Tips for Spending the Holidays Abroad

Spend time with classmates and roomies

So you’re doing a year abroad and that pesky winter schedule dictates that you stick around until after Christmas, meaning you don’t get to go home for the holidays. While the prospect of spending the jolliest time of the year alone in Europe might seem daunting at first, it really doesn’t have to be. I’ve spent several years away from my family, passing the holidays abroad, and what I’ve learned is that, if you put a little effort into your plans, it can be an extremely rewarding, not to mention fun, experience. Here are a few tips on how to make your Christmas/Hannukah/New Year/Whathaveyou great while you’re studying abroad.

1) Find someone to spend the day with. Whether it’s December 25, the 8 nights of the Festival of Lights or New Year’s Eve, there is one thing that you don’t want to do: spend it alone. But I guarantee there are other foreign students in the exact same boat as you are – not heading home for the holidays – so go find them! Ask around in class or your student group. If there is no plan, make one. Have a party at your house or dorm room. Go to a friend’s family’s house for dinner. Schedule an evening out. All of the above will work, and you will enjoy the company of other students like you that can commiserate over spending the holidays in [insert your country here].

2) Decorate your room or apartment. I usually like to scour the local cheapy €1 shops for decorations, or even a fake mini-Christmas tree. Have a craft party and make your decorations, which will kill two birds with one stone. Believe me, a little holiday cheer goes a long way.

3) Plan for Christmas Day. Europe is largely Christian, which means that Christmas Day is generally a total wash. Most places close up for one or two days, if not more, during that period, so buy some groceries in advance and hunker down for a day of TV or cooking at home.

4) Partake in a local celebration. One way certain to kill off the lonesome holiday blues is to learn about how Christmas is celebrated in the country where you’re studying. Every locale in Europe has a different set of local customs. Find out what they are and check them out! Better yet, invite some friends to go along, or find a local student to be your guide.

5) Make contact with the people back home. Plan a Skype or phone date with your family back home, especially if they are having a family dinner, celebration or party. Be sure to take into account the time difference and plan a few days in advance so that they remember your call. If you really want to feel the hometown spirit, get your family to use their webcam to chat with you so you can see and hear the homey holiday bliss.

6) Don’t get depressed. Whatever you do, don’t give in to the feeling that you are missing out on something back home. Try to remember the fact that you are out having a great study abroad adventure, while your family/friends are celebrating the same ole way as always at home. Although you may miss them terribly, you probably aren’t missing out on anything you haven’t experienced before!