Today is Christmas Eve, and I have to be honest - I am a little homesick. I have been visiting our Dominican families all day, and I see how important family is here to people - they do not care about getting presents - of course they will recieve graciously, and the kids LOVE new toys, but it is not important. Today in Girls Club we went around in a circle and each girl said what Christmas meant to them - almost every girl said it was about being with family.
And this is what made me homesick - I thought to myself; if family is so important to people here, then why am I here right now and not with my own family back in Canada? Here I am in this beautiful paradise, and still I am missing my family.
Then tonight I started thinking, and I realized some things. Yes, I miss my family and they are the most important people in my life, but they are also supporting me in being here. I am here for a reason, and they get that. They are encouraging me, and they are proud of me for what I am doing. And I love and appreciate them so much for that. I should not be upset about missing them, but embrace what I have here in the Dominican Republic, and all of the love I am recieving from the people I am here to help. I am spending Christmas in a beautiful country, doing something I love - and what is so amazing is that my family gets it and they are supporting me. I have them to look forward to when I return home. So I may not be with them for Christmas, but I am so glad that they are behind me in what I am doing.
Another thing that I realized is that I am so lucky to have the resources to be able to travel to a different country for Christmas. Part of the reason I came for Christmas was because I wanted to experience the holiday in another culture - and since my heart is in the DR, I want to try and understand every aspect of this culture. I wanted to see what it felt like to give instead of recieve on such a traditional holiday. I am so grateful that I am able to travel, and that I have loving people to spend the holidays with here in the Dominican. And I am so lucky and blessed to have a loving, supportive family waiting for me at home. I would not be where I am today if it weren't for the support and encouragement from all of my family.
So to all of my family, thanks for everything. I love you all and Merry Christmas.
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