Christmas in Saigon

I still can’t believe that I’ve been home for almost a month. Time flies when you don’t pay attention.

Most of my friends who I usually hang out with when I’m home are all combating exams either in the US or in Vietnam. Thus, besides working and spending time preparing lessons for my students, I try to keep myself busy helping my sister with her wedding preparation, helping my younger sis with her school work, or just do nothing. It gets quite boring and pointless often.

When I feel like being home alone all the time having nothing to do has turned me into a depressing person, I go out and spend time … alone. It’s Christmas time, and even without the cold weather and the white snow, Saigon still looks like it is ready for the season greetings. I haven’t been home during Christmas for a while. Even though I admit that I love the holiday atmosphere in the US, there is a certain unique feeling about Christmas in my tropical hometown that is still able to make me have butterflies in my stomach.

I love walking from streets to streets, wandering from one district to another, with no one to see and no place to go. I don’t have to rush anywhere, and don’t have to think about how to get things done. Just listening to music, watching people to wherever they go, I feel like it’s much easier to think about what I need to think about.

It feels different without the below-zero weather and the white snow. I miss complaining about the cold, and rushing into Starbucks for a cup of warm latte. I miss going Christmas shopping with friends. I just miss the feeling of Christmas in the US.

Lights in the bedroom

Regardless, it’s Christmas, and it IS my favorite time of the year. My dad has put up Christmas lights everywhere, after my constant whining about how much I love Christmas lights. Christmas music is being played in the house all the time. I just wish I could be with someone to snuggle up, to be kept warm in his arms, watching a movie or something.

Well, it feels like everyone is happy, and excited to end the year, bad or good, and welcome a new year. I’m going to spend it well, celebrate it with my family, my friends, my city, my home. Despite how much I complain about it, there has not been a time when I come home that I did not have good times with friends and family.

Life can never be easy. There are ups and downs, but that’s how it is. There are many things that I get to experience and there are many memories I have made this year. And let’s make next year a memorable one too.

We’re growing up days by days, it feels weird.

My all time favorite Christmas playlist <3