I lived in Indonesia for about a year and a half working as English teacher. I come from New York and lived in East Java for a year before I moved to Bali there about six months. While living in East Java last year, and spend the holidays away from home for the first time, I decided to go to Bali. It is this experience that has greatly influenced my decision to stay not only in Indonesia but also go to Bali.
Since I could remember, I hated the terrible winters of New York City, regardless of whether the city is magical during the holidays. From the exquisitely decorated Bloomingdales, Rockefeller Center, and for real New Yorkers of the Christmas lights superfluous band screaming Italian mansions belonging to South Brooklyn. So it was a little weird to me last year when I began to miss the cold weather that holiday began to approach. This was my first Christmas away from home, and even though I had always dreamed of spending Christmas on a tropical beach, I has finally been able to appreciate the beauty of having a white Christmas.
It was my plan to spend Christmas 2012 with a few different groups of Java friends, but at the last minute, the plans of all the world has changed. I immediately felt extremely homesick. But I told myself, "Anna you are in New York, you are friendly, intelligent and have a great time no matter what." After earnestly looking for a hostel, at the last minute, I came across a line called Granny. The name intrigued me. I read that the reasoning behind the name is because we miss our grandmothers while traveling, and the hostel wanted to create an environment for everyone to feel at home. I had a hunch that the hostel grandmother would be the ideal place for me to spend the holidays.
Granny was owned and run by a Norwegian family, the idea became a success in creating an atmosphere for any traveler feel at home no matter where they came from. When I arrived at Granny after a treacherously long bus ride from Java, I was greeted with warmth and smiles. So far, Granny is still a place I frequent often and has become a second home to me during my travels.
The Norwegian family had two young children, whose grandparents were visiting for Christmas too. The first night I spent at the Inn was memorable. A common table outside was filled with family members and guests. People were wrapping Christmas presents, drinking, smoking, joking, playing card games, singing and laughing. Having relaxed, I started talking to one of the staff members, which is now not only a friend but also a brother to me. My new friend smiled and said to me. "Anna, welcome to the family" I felt relieved and grateful to my decision and thought, "If I could not be with my family for my first Christmas away from home, I am grateful to celebrate with another family, and also with fellow travelers away from their families, traditions and food. "
I was slightly aware that some European countries Western celebrate Christmas on December 24. So the night that I still considered Christmas Eve, was actually Christmas for many visitors (it's also become a hot button, but the humorous discussion between myself and many others ). A barbecue was prepared for everyone, and as we washed the successful meal down with drinks, the family was inside exchanging gifts by the tree. We started drinking together, share stories of the house, talking about our travels and why we are not with our families. We have also begun discussing how strange it was to celebrate Christmas in a tropical climate. One of the guests was Austria who traveled to the Philippines just before the holidays and decided to spend Christmas in Bali. His younger sister joined him, so they can be together for the holidays. As we talked, he said something so true and so funny.
"It's just strange being in a tropical country during the holidays, it does not seem natural. I mean, you walk into a mall and hear Barry White Needless be a white Christmas , and you are sweating with palm trees around you. Really? a white Christmas here? "
This comment was awarded with a big laugh from everyone from cold parts of the world.
Most of us were young travelers under the age of thirty, with a few exceptions. For some reason this aroused my curiosity. I understand that young people should satisfy their desires to explore, travel and create new experiences. Leaving behind the family, especially when so far, and for the first time is strange, but bittersweet. I come from a strong and traditional Greek Orthodox home in America, and the holidays are always great, filled with lots of food, family, friends and church services expanded. It was only after my experience last year when I realized that there is nothing wrong with young people who want to leave the house looking to create their own traditions. This seemed to be a common theme among most of us tonight. We all of course missed our homes, but we knew that all our past holidays kind of blurred together as one. But Christmas 2012 was one of the most memorable Christmas for most of us.
Granny is talented at creating a common atmosphere and a home for everyone who comes. After sharing memories, language and culture, we have created a new family to the other. The local people I met at Granny and Westerners are some of my best friends in Indonesia. This strong sense of community was the most important factor in my decision to move to Bali. A Granny I have a home and a family, which is something valuable to find while traveling so far from your original home and family.