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Last night, Dodong and I hosted a noche buena for a few friends, who were also left in the cold desert to celebrate Christmas, in our shoebox of a flat. We had a humble Noche Buena feast of pork BBQ, crispy pata, kare-kare, chopsuey, hammour in oyster sauce, palabok, rice (of course!) leche flan and a few bottles of beer. I say feast because the food was good enough to feed a good 20 people when in fact we were only 8 ravenous people! It was a merry night of good food, stories, Christmas carols (alongside boy band songs), and drinks in our little home. We did have a merry little Christmas indeed! Or so I thought…

It was a merry little Christmas, my first OFW (Overseas Filipino Wife) Christmas, until I lay my tired, sleep-hungry body into bed. Dodong was peacefully snoring away when I tucked myself under the blanket and then started sobbing. I couldn’t understand why. I spent my first Christmas with my husband and new friends. I also slept with good food in mah growing fat belly. Though I only received one gift this Christmas, I was still happy and blessed with many other gifts. Then why the sudden gush of holiday tears?

I miss the boisterous laughter from the random everyday stories of my Titos, Titas and cousins.

I miss the mad rush towards the callos, Chinese ham, and queso de bola at Noche Buena table.

I obviously miss the once-a-year Noche Buena food!

I miss family history stories from Lolo, Papa, Titos and Titas…especially food stories.

I miss the popping of Sarsi and Pop Cola bottles…even though I do not drink softdrinks.

I miss the belly rubbing after the Noche Buena feast.

I miss answering a family trivia question, which entitles me to get all my Christmas gifts.

I miss waking up to a busy Christmas day filled with visits to family in Cainta and San Juan.

I cried because I miss my family dearly. I miss the Christmas traditions. I miss the company of my family. Sigh.

But as one of my readers commented a few posts back, loneliness / homesickness is something I really have to deal with (No choice!) and I do have to enjoy what I have right now: my new family, my husband Dodong.

And so I wiped away my tears and greeted my husband, Dodong, with a salty Merry Christmas kiss.

Merry Christmas to everyone! Hope you are enjoying your time with your respective families in wherever corner of the globe you are!

Stuffing myself silly is not the same without YOU

Last year, due to visa concerns, Dodong was able to spend Christmas here at home. But this year is different. After his 2-week vacation, he had to go back to the desert for work. So unlike most OFWs, most kabayans, who are home for the holidays, Dodong is in the desert, working while trying to recreate the Christmas celebrations with fellow kabayans. Is your honey home or away for the holidays too?

This is Dodong's first Christmas away from home in a foreign non-Christian land. Plus, this is our first Christmas apart…

Although when he's home, we do spend Christmas with our respective families, but then again, the whole getting together of families and friends just adds to the "missing him" mood. Thanks to technology, we would be able to be "together" this Christmas despite the distance between us…

Long distance Christmas phone patch

Once the clock strikes 12mn in Dubai time (approximately 4am Philippine time), I will be giving Dodong a call. Thank God for lower long distance call rates, I'd be able to call him without hurting my pocket as much. For Globe subscribers like myself, just dial 12800 + country code + area code + telephone number. Instead of being charged per minute, your call will be charged per second at Php 0.17 per second. Not bad right?

Live streamed Noche Buena

Hmmm with the time difference (4-hours), I think that our food would be wiped out by then. Hehehe! I'm asking Dodong if he could live stream their Christmas celebration. I could join in their kabayan Christmas celebration too It actually is a blessing that Christmas Eve falls on a Thursday which is the last day of the work week over there.

I just wish I could fly in a Christmas Ham to share the Pinoy love this Christmas day. Would you send a Christmas Ham for him?

Merry Christmas everyone! Don't be blue, technology is there for you Be happy that someone out there (literally) is there wishing you all the best for this Christmas

Love the distance,

Inday I. Nagintay