Spending holidays abroad can be rough. I remember my first holiday abroad, Thanksgiving in 2009. I was sad to be missing turkey and stuffing with my family, and I was scared I would feel sad and miss my family. This coming Thursday will be my fourth consecutive Thanksgiving spent abroad, and now spending I’m not even fazed. Of course, there’s nothing better than being with the people you care about the most during the holidays, but there are some ways to make spending holidays abroad a little bit easier.
1. Find a celebration in the city you’re in
If you’re in a large city, there will most likely be bars or restaurants hosting a dinner or event in honor of the holidays. For Thanksgiving in Seoul, for example, check out the bars and restaurants in the foreigner district of Itaewon. Last year, I went to Craftworks, a microbrewery, for dinner. For around 30,000 won ($30) you got a plate piled high with turkey and all the fixings and a choice of dessert. It was fun to get together with my American coworkers and have dinner in a festive atmosphere. This year I’m heading to a buffet at Gecko’s where I plan on overeating in true Thanksgiving fashion.
Craftworks Thanksgiving dinner.
2. Make your own party
Don’t want to go out? Host your own party. Gather up some friends, American or not, and recreate your holiday favorites. When I was an au pair in Rome, I suggested to my host family that I cook them an American Thanksgiving dinner. They immediately said yes, and were excited to have the opportunity to experience an American holiday. In lieu of a whole turkey, something I couldn’t afford on my au pair salary, I pan fried turkey breasts. For sides, I made my dad’s stuffing recipe, green beans with pancetta, and mashed potatoes. I even baked a pumpkin pie for dessert. My host parents brought a bottle of white wine, and we enjoyed a nice meal and cultural exchange.
My host kids made Thanksgiving crafts.
And then we ate.
3. Call your family back home
The Thanksgiving I spent in Rome was my first real holiday abroad and I was nervous that I’d be a complete homesick mess. I combated this by talking to my family a lot. We Skyped while my dad talked me through the stuffing recipe, and then spoke again after we’d both eaten. The next year I was in London on Thanksgiving and not doing anything to celebrate. But I chatted with my family while I walked down Bond Street looking at the Christmas lights, and even though I was far away, I felt a lot closer, and a little bit like I was part of the celebrations back home.
4. Do something extra fun
If all else fails, just do something special. Maybe you aren’t opening presents on Christmas morning, but that gives you time to get a massage and facial at a fancy hotel. In London, I decided to do a Beatles walking tour on Thanksgiving. The Beatles are my favorite band, and even though it wasn’t turkey, it was something that was special. Choose something that you wouldn’t normally do, or that you’ve always wanted to experience, and make that your holiday celebration for the year.
Crossing Abbey Road in Thanksgiving.
How have you coped with spending holidays abroad? What were your favorite holiday celebrations that you’ve had away from home?
Thanksgiving 2009 was the first Thanksgiving I experienced! I was spending some time abroad in France, and my American friendy decided to host a traditional Thanksgiving dinner for their friendy. I got involved in all the preparations (for 15 people) and it was so much fun! We didn’t have a turkey, though, because it was ridiculously expensive, but several roast chicken – and of course mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, some slightly weird sweet potato and marshmallow dish and, my favourite, pumpkin and apple pies.
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The sweet potato and marshmallow dish is an American classic
I’m glad you got to experience an American Thanksgiving. I love introducing people to new holidays, and learning about holidays I’ve never celebrated- it’s part of the beauty of living abroad!
My plan is to do what you did in Rome – I’m working as an au pair in France so I asked my family if they wanted me to cook an American thanksgiving and they were excited about it! I’m kind of nervous to try cooking such a big meal so I might buy a few things (like the turkey) pre-cooked at the butcher. Whatever gets dinner on the table, I guess!
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Your family is going to LOVE it! My host parents were just as excited as the kids, and everyone loved hearing about Thanksgiving and saying what they were thankful for. And don’t worry if it’s not 100 percent like it would be at home, a pre-cooked turkey will be more than fine
Even if a holiday doesn’t really mean a lot to you I think it’s important to be aware of it and try to plan at least a little something special…it seems like loneliness strikes hardest on those days! Last I spent Thanksgiving completely by myself, and it was fine, but a little…bleh. This year I’m being more proactive about planning something with friends, even if that means I’m stuck with a lot of the work – I want it to be more special and share it with non-Americans who don’t usually celebrate it!
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I agree! Even if you think it won’t mean a lot, you’ll probably end up feeling down. Sharing American holidays with non-Americans is so much fun. That Thanksgiving in Italy was probably my favorite holiday ever.
I totally agree about making your own party. I spent last Thanksgiving and Christmas with host families in Europe. I was pretty lucky: At Thanksgiving one of the member’s of the host family was a professional chef, and he decided it would be fun to cook a proper Thanksgiving dinner. At Christmas, the host family bought myself and the other work exchangers little gifts, and made us a part of their family Christmas. It was hard being away from home, but the makeshift families we can form abroad are also really touching.
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This will be my 5th Thanksgiving and 4th Christmas away from home… but it seems that no matter where I am, if I’m willing to share American food/traditions, there are plenty of people willing to participate
I offered to make Thanksgiving dinner for my au pair family in Paris… they were so excited that they invited 5 other people! Nothing like cooking my first Thanksgiving dinner alone for 11 people! 
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Ah, 11 is a huge undertaking! I was nervous enough cooking for four
One of the great things about Thanksgiving is that although it is an American holiday, the concept is universal. And the food is good. So everyone can get involved.
Thanks for these reminders, Amanda- it’s nice to find a way to make the holiday season special as an ex-pat or traveler! Hope you’re having happy holidays, all the best from Madrid
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Thanks, Brandy! I hope you had a lovely holiday season.
As a long time expat in Korea, I can certainly relate. It’s gotten easier for me the longer I’ve been away. For me it’s also been about adapting traditions to fit or making new ones entirely as opposed to trying to recreate something as best I can, if that makes sense.
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I like that idea a lot. My Thanksgiving this year was far from traditional, but ended up being a lot of fun!