How To Deal With Christmas in KSA

(or the non-existence of it...)

A few hours to go before Christmas! We all know how hard it is to be away from home during the holidays, especially when you're all alone in a land that doesn't even recognize Christmas. Here are our few tips to our kababayans in the desert of Saudi Arabia where December 25 is considered as a normal working day for every one.

1. Be homesick and do something about it. On ordinary days, OFWs tend to get homesick already but the level of homesickness goes up a notch during holidays when memories of you and your family enjoying Noche Buena come to mind. Acknowledge that you miss your family and friends. Acknowledge that you miss your holiday rituals in the Philippines. Don't deny yourself of these nostalgic yet happy thoughts. And then, call home. Or use Skype and Facetime to see your loved ones after your work. Greet family members and friends, wherever they are, a very Merry Christmas. That's what Facebook and Twitter are for. Of course the chances of you being envious of seeing them celebrating Christmas together in the Philippines might create another wave of nostalgia and self-pity but think of how happy they are and how you helped and caused this happiness. 

2. Always have the Christmas spirit in you. There's no Christmas in Saudi Arabia but you can always bring the Christmas spirit in you. Or at least, create it. No, we are not encouraging you to flaunt your Christmas decors and attend Christmas parties in isterahas... please don't! But here are a few ways on how to get into the Christmas spirit without getting yourself in trouble...

a. Listen to Christmas songs at the comfort of your homes or personal music players. Just avoid "Pasko Na Sinta Ko" and all the other sappy songs that will just make you tear up. Listen to the happy ones. Even Jingle Bells, if you wish, just to get you in that merry groove. 

b. Have an awesome dinner. Even if you're alone, indulge! And what's the very first indulgence that comes into mind? Food! Whether it be in a restaurant that you're trying for the first time or a restaurant that serves your ultimate comfort food... or in the comfort of your flats (because you can cook a mean caldereta or kare-kare or menudo), eat something wonderful and exceptionally satisfying. Have that steak for goodness' sake! Dinner doesn't need to have keso de bola or hamon. It just have to be something special that you don't usually eat or something that reminds you of Christmas Noche Buena back in your home country. You can even host a small dinner for your colleagues or flat mates if you want. All boys or all girls only okay? 

c. Decorate a small space in your room. Don't expect us to tell you where to get Christmas trees and Christmas decors in Saudi Arabia because well, we don't know and that's a little bit too out there. You can, however, print some stuff like greeting cards. Even shiny objects and glittery sashes are found easily in Abu Riyalin stores. You don't have to make it bonggang-bongga. One or two to cheer you up is okay. Light up some candles with peppermint or hot chocolate or pine scents (you can find them in Bath and Body Works) to create a simple holiday ambiance. 

d. Dress up. Red and green are just not the colors of Christmas and we would like for you to avoid these colors when going out tonight or the days around Christmas. Go for something glamorous like black and gold or silver. Don your embellished abayas if you like. Use a lot of accessories. Sparkles and bling bling tend to remind you of the holiday rush. Glam up your nails with glittery, metallic, or uber shiny polishes. Wear red lipstick! Wear something new!

3. Have gifts. You don't have to wrap them in Christmas-y wrappers! It doesn't even have to be big ones. A small special token is enough for your friends or colleagues (who can relate to the celebration, of course). It doesn't even have to mean "Christmas gifts." It can serve as friendship gifts or thanksgiving tokens. It can mean anything good and wonderful, with or without occasions. Stumped on what to give? How about books, frames, scented candles, lip balms, caps, etc.? I'm sure you have a lot in mind. Also, give yourself a gift! (Very important!) Buy something for yourself. Itching to get a new cellphone to replace your battered one? Or maybe a new camera? Or a new abaya? Whatever it is, give yourself a gift. You deserve it.

4. Make December 25 special. You don't have to treat the day as "Christmas" per se but why not do and try something new on this day? Here are some ideas:

a. Write a letter. Remember the days when email and text messages didn't exist? Handwritten letters are still nice. It still creates warm fuzzies in your stomach and brings up a lot of memories when your children used to send you ones. Write letters to them or to your loved one back home. 

b. Relive 2012 by making a collage or a list. It's so nice to reminisce the year that was. The highlights will make you proud and happy. The lowlights will bring a tear and a lesson.  

c. Get a haircut. A new hair style to celebrate? Why not! Book an appointment to salons or go to your trusted barber and get that much-deserve hair or nails service. Get a massage after work! 

d. Donate to charities and causes. Clothes for the victims of Typhoon Pablo, for instance. Or to our kababayans in Riyadh who are in need. Ask the Philippine embassy how you can donate and help! 

e. Get on that ride! Try Riyadh's entertainment centers like Star City and Al Hokair Land. The Pink Tarha ladies haven't been to these places but we'd looove to. 

There are a lot more of "new" things to try and activities to do. Be as imaginative and creative as possible. We support you! (As long as they're legal activities, of course! ;)

5. Be kind. This should be done every day but an extra dose of kindness on special days is not a crime. Smile at strangers (just don't smile like a maniac, haha!). Say hello to your tea boy and ask him how his day was. Give an extra tip to the nice taxi driver that brought you home or the waiter that served you cocktails. Share your lunch with a colleague. Pray for joy and peace. 

Saudi Arabia doesn't recognize Christmas and doesn't tolerate expats celebrating it so we'd like you to treat this day as normal as possible when in public. After all, Christmas, wherever you are, doesn't have to be flaunted to be celebrated. It's up to you how you celebrate this day and how you can translate the message of this special event in your lives. 

Be merry. Be jolly. Always. Happy holidays! ~ Sundrenched

Season's Greetings!

This is perhaps a late, yet still, a heartfelt message from The Pink Tarha...

Share the gift of TIME. The gift of SERVICE. And the gift of LOVE.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS EVERYONE!!!

A "Bazaar" Day of Fun!

TWO WEEKS AGO, I joined my mum and my two aunts to go to a "Christmas Bazaar" in one of the compounds here in Riyadh. For security purposes, I won't be able to name the place publicly, but let's just say that it is a very spacious, very open compound, wherein you would feel as if you weren't in Saudi Arabia at all. For me, it was a slice of "freedom." Even if I had to wake up as early as 6 am on a Friday morning to get to it. See entrance to this place is exclusive, and the security check is hard core. Gotta get there early.

The person who invited us to the bazaar is a friend of ours and I believe their compound holds this every year, with the proceeds of the entrance fee going to a charity. I wasn't sure what to expect or if I'd buy anything at all...I just came to spend the day with my family. But I ended up going home feeling wildly amused with myself. Towards the end of this write-up, you''ll know why.

When we got in, we were greeted by the numerous stalls lined up across the wide parking space. There were trinkets, jewelries, clothes, decor, furniture, books and lots of food! Most of the items were Chritmas-related -- as you know, we ARE in Saudi Arabia, and finding decent Christmas accents in commercial centers is a hoot -- so, my mum and my aunts went off to scavenge their way to some good finds. Meanwhile, my uncle and I, along with my second cousin, strolled along. Apart from the stalls, there was a jumbo-bouncy-castle thing where the kids could play, right in the middle of the grassed area. That's where all the kids went crazy for. On the side, there was a Seattle's Best booth which saved me from my groggy disposition. Not that hearing shrieking kids woke me up, no, not at all.

As the sun's rays grew stronger and with the help of caffeine, I began to mingle and small talk my way in and out of booths. I found some really funny greeting cards made in the UK, 3 for 10SR -- which was all I could afford with the money I had at the time. However, my mom and aunts found these items more to their liking:

Candy canes, snowflakes and snowman trimmings.

Santa hats, mittens and organic dog treats (upper left).

Now these are unique items, and they look like they can be family heirlooms!

I believe this is Santa's cousin, who is selling the merchandise.

I was pretty much food-tripping with my uncle, trying out grilled "Bratwursts" for the first time (they're huge, German sausages), homemade cupcakes from an Irish recipe, plus some regular Indian food -- the ones where you dip bread in curry sauce. Sorry, no pictures of that, we were too excited to eat it! :P

As I finished my hearty morning meal, I noticed a bunch of kids lining up by the Harley Davidson booth (they were selling apparel+accessories) and apparently, a bunch of biker boys were taking the kids for a ride around the parking lot for 5SR each. Something in me just clicked and I decided that I wanna have a go at it! So, there I was lined up with a bunch of eight-year-old-somethings, waiting for my turn. And what could make this imagery more ridiculous is that I had my mom right there beside me waiting in line -- coz I needed someone to take a picture of me while on the bike. Meanwhile, all these tweens were just on their own! Hahahaha! But at the time, I didn't care. I wanted an adventure!

So here I am:

A nice capture don't you think?

We rode in and out of the parking lot and since I was much older than the kids who usually ride it, the guy I was with went a little faster than usual. Which was great! It was a sunny, winter morning, and the breeze was flowing through my hair. Ahhh! It was such an exhilarating experience! Most especially because the week leading to that Friday has been very stressful for me, and venturing on that wild abandonment kinda brought me back to life, so to speak.

Call me "mababaw" or whatever, but the thing you should know about me is that I also don't know how to ride a bike. Much less a motorbike like a Harley Davidson. So for me to have experienced this, is kind of a big deal already. :)

We left the place at around noon, after watching a traditional Scottish dance performance. (Yes, t'was also my first time to see men in 'kilts').

On our way home, I can't help but feel like it was a one-day vacation away from the realities of my day-to-day life in Riyadh. I was full with all the food we tasted from different countries. The view was awesome, everyone appeared 'normal' - in normal clothes, and sometimes, not so normal (i.e. kilts). My aunts got some great Christmas stuff, AND I got to ride a Harley! :)

I guess one of the Pink Tarha mottos CAN really do me some good these days: "Do something new everyday." Feel free to use it yourself one of these days!

Cheers!

-EC-

Season's Greetings!

Greetings to all of our readers!
The Pink Tarha would like to greet all of you a....

Wherever you are in the world, we send you our warmest greetings! We hope you are having a wonderful and meaningful Christmas. :)

With much love,
The Pink Tarha

How To Celebrate Christmas in KSA

There are less than seven days left before Christmas Day. Can any of you feel the Christmas spirit abuzz? Or are you mostly left nostalgic for the Christmas celebrations in the Philippines? Being in Saudi Arabia, where one is not allowed to publicly practice one's faith unless he/she is a Muslim, you may very well expect that there are no 'parols' adorning the streets nor would there be carol singers knocking and serenading at your doors in the evenings. The city hustles along it's usual way and the only flicker of Christmas spirit that you can reward yourself with is by playing Christmas songs in your car or iPod.

So what else can we non-Muslim OFWs do to get by the Christmas holiday without freezing our hearts out in the cold, winter weather in the middle of the desert?

1. Have company. If you are single and don’t have any family members with you here in the Kingdom, try not to spend the holidays solo. It will only reinforce the feeling that you are away from your family and let the somber loneliness take over. Surely your friends would also want some company this season, so a little gathering with food and hardcore karaoke is enough to get you by the night. Ilabas mo na lang lahat ng lungkot mo sa videoke!

1a. Enjoy your family. Some of us are fortunate enough to have at least one member with us in the Kingdom (it may be a distant aunt or cousin, or your whole clan might be here). It's worthwhile to be with them during this time of the year, so give them a call. Round up all the relatives you can find here in the Kingdom and organize a little get-together. Have a "Kris Kringle" exchange and share family stories over dinner time. You'll be glad you were with them this Christmas.

2. Offer prayers. You can do this of course in the comforts of your own home. Given that we can't participate in "Simbang Gabi" or any form of public mass or religious gatherings in the name of Christmas, we can compensate for this by doing our devotions at home. Christmas is a celebration of God's gift and it is only rightly so that we give thanks and dedication in the name of God's love.

As much as it is a time of giving, we should not forget to give back to the One who has given us so much. Having a strong sense of faith is one way to fight the gloomy nights away. In fact, if you have a wonderful relationship with your faith, you won't be feeling so cold and alone at all.

3. Shop 'til you drop! Retail therapy always helps us through rough times (for us ladies, that is). Christmas shopping has become an economic commodity and it's also a good (and expensive) way to get through the holidays. Get lost and drown in shopping mania (in the name of your friends and families, of course) and go purchase something nice and pretty for the people you care about. It is after all the season of giving. And with all the blooming sales that are abound, the ladies are definitely agreeing with us on this one! ;)

4. Perform acts of charity. On a less materialistic note, get involved in organizations that will be hosting events in honor of the less fortunate. Like we've mentioned, it is after all the season of giving. And performing acts of charity is giving at its best. It can be as simple as a monetary donation or better yet, a donation of your time and efforts to a worthy cause. One good idea is to visit a center of distressed OFWs, spend time with them, hear their stories and let them know that someone cares. The gift of service is one of the best gifts you can give this Christmas. This is something you can do on your own and it's not at all illegal in Saudi Arabia.

5. Keep warm but avoid the heat. The heat from 'religious police'* that is. As much as possible, steer clear of big, group events that are being held on the 24th and 25th. Muttawas* are aware of our Christmas holidays and our desire to be with our kababayans on this joyful occasion,. Sadly, they are able to raid such events and even arrest all in attendance. Most of the time, it's because of the mix of the opposite sex in one location. Keep in mind that public events involving the mixing of unrelated male and females is prohibited. Try celebrating two days before or after Christmas Day, and keep the party list to a minimum to avoid suspicion.

It is really difficult to be alone in a foreign country in a time like Christmas (and in a country like Saudi Arabia). Especially if we're used to the festivities in the Philippines this time of the year: the lechon, the keso de bola, the relentless carolers, the midnight walks to the church, the long glances at the Christmas lanterns and decorations while the noise of our families sound off in the background. A lot of things are to be missed...but we have to make do with what we can and let the spirit of Christmas prevail. No matter where in the world we may be.