As a child, my parents made a point of never ever traveling at Christmas and New Year’s Eve. There was one exception, needed to confirm the rule, of course! At the Touring Family, our end of year celebrations are less predictable.

Version 1: “So… what do you think of Bangalore?”

This version looms if the end of the year gets preceded with questions like: “So…. what do you think of Bangalore?” or “ So…. France or USA?” In neither case this is about vacation planning. They are the announcements that cancel the Christmas tree and hail the moving boxes.

Twice now, instead of Santa bringing presents, Santa Fe came and removed all our things. Not quite the same thing to put it mildly.

To all my expat readers, or soon to be expat readers, we really do not recommend this. If however, that is what you end up doing, then take solace that your taxes will be easier to fill in with a move on precisely the first of the year. Take my word for that!

There are two problems really, with a move at that time of year. The first being that all the social engagements of parents and children alike really do sabotage any progress on move preparation.

The second problem is more geographical in nature. Not everywhere we moved had the same climate. One year the move only changed two letters in our location and represented a mere change of temperature units. Ah, what is the difference between INDIA and INDIAna?? Between 30 degrees Celsius or 30 degrees Fahrenheit?

Version 2: Rocket launch!!

Here we are, in the middle of Indiana, homeschooling at our favorite café on Jens’ last day at the office before the holidays. I pull up the livestream of the upcoming Falcon 9 rocket launch at Kennedy Space Center. Kimana and Fire watch, riveted to the screen. Then, in the last minute before launch, it gets scrubbed. As I look at the disappointed faces an idea forms in my head. “Kimana, Fire, would you sit with the three of you in the back of the Prius for 16 hours to see this in person?” They would. The next launch opportunity is scheduled in 19 hours. And our mad countdown begins! Can we make it? By the time we arrive home one hour later, we have VIP launch viewing tickets, a friend’s teenager has agreed to look after Egan, Jens managed to leave the office and we have 20 minutes to pack for a road trip to Florida.

Jens and I take turns driving through Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia into Florida. After 16 hours we roll into the Kennedy Space Center. Launch Scrubbed!!! After two more attempts and 5 days spent happily exploring the Kennedy Space Center, we do see it launch 5 days later. Mission accomplished!

Version 3: Road Trip with Friends

As opposed to Version 2’s mad dash against a countdown, these road trip get planned. One year we traveled from our home in Bangalore to the stunning landscape of Kerala accompanied by our friends who were just discovering India for the first time. The driver of our minibus had to suffer through the ever changing forms of adapting the 12 Days of Christmas Carols to our current setting.

Version 4: Home for the Holidays

This has never been as true in 2020 as any other year. There is an element of rest and simplicity involved in spending the Holiday Season at home. A candlelight, book reading, board game playing, movie watching and comfort food eating simplicity that brings peace. Especially since the kids have come to expect very few frills so everything that does come their way is viewed as an absolute bonus!

What the children think of our holiday plans

Often parents do or don’t do something for the sake of the children. While our lifestyle has caused us to sometimes really improvise on traditions and write begging notes to Santa and the Christkind, we have managed to uphold certain traditions including Santa and the Christkind and the Galette des Rois (Epiphany cake on January 6th).

Ciquala’s main wish was that Santa be notified of where to drop the presents. Kimana actually likes the changing environments of each Holiday Season and would miss it if we always were in the same place. Fire likes the variation of our holidays and while he prefers having a tree and proper decorations, he doesn’t mind coming to the rescue with an outside tree or a small houseplant or one fashioned out of moving boxes!

How do you spend the Holidays?

Does your family travel? Do you stay home? Which of our versions would most appeal to you or have you experienced?