Observing Christmas far from home's hearth<\/p>\n
By Lila Fitri Aly<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): That humble soybean curd, tempeh, dressed up for
\nChristmas dinner?!<\/p>\n
It is a vegetarian dish, along with gado-gado, which might
\nturn up at the family gathering of Margaret Renault, head of
\nAusAid at the Australian embassy.<\/p>\n
She has to come up with suitable dishes for her vegetarian
\ndaughter and her friend -- and the local nonmeat options make for
\na little variation on the traditional theme of roast turkey, ham,
\npotatoes, baked pumpkin, carrots and vegetables.<\/p>\n
\"I'm so lucky this year,\" Renault said. \"My husband and my
\nfour children are with me.\"<\/p>\n
This will be her last Christmas in Jakarta after she was
\nposted here in 1994.<\/p>\n
She said there would be no trouble to prepare the traditional
\ndishes as she had heaps of help at home.<\/p>\n
\"It is so sad I have to leave Jakarta,\" she said, although
\nChristmas in Canberra would mean being with the extended family.<\/p>\n
For Delores M. Mortimer, assistant press attache at the
\nAmerican Embassy, this will be her third Christmas here.<\/p>\n
She said she was thrilled to be able to celebrate with her
\nhusband this year, though she added she had always managed to
\ncreate an atmosphere of home away from home.<\/p>\n
\"You have to make your friends as your family,\" she said.
\nAfter Christmas dinner at a restaurant with friends, whom she
\nsaid come from several countries besides Indonesia, champagne,
\nmusic and dancing would follow at a friend's house.<\/p>\n
With all that, she said, although far from hometown Michigan,
\n\"there is no reason to be lonely\".<\/p>\n
But of course there are the things not to be found in Jakarta
\n-- the snow, the gathering around the fireplace. \"I miss seeing
\nsmoke from the fireplace coming out the chimney. It is so
\nromantic,\" reminisces Mortimer.<\/p>\n
\"The house is warm. In one corner, one group is chatting,
\nwhile others are watching television, or listening to music or
\nreading.\"<\/p>\n
This is where technology comes in. To ease those feelings of
\nhomesickness, Mortimer uses photographic facilities on the
\nInternet.<\/p>\n
\"Of course, it's not the same as being able to touch them,\"
\nshe said.<\/p>\n
Mortimer also sends everyone letters, cards and gifts -- \"I've
\nsent 12 boxes... I'm so proud of myself for being on time.\"<\/p>\n
French<\/p>\n
General manager of Air France, Christian Herpin, who has been
\nresident here for 15 months, said Christmas Eve for the French is
\na real family gathering.<\/p>\n
\"We don't invite friends. No dancing. Christmas is a very
\nclosed family party. Possibly, just one or two very intimate
\nfriends are around.\"<\/p>\n
A pine tree two meters high is cut from the forest and
\ndecorated.<\/p>\n
\"I love the smell of the tree. It is very special,\" Herpin
\nsaid.<\/p>\n
The trees are visible in all their splendor in every big
\nsquare in the country, with all the department store windows
\nadorned with small beautiful dolls and mobile electric toys.<\/p>\n
\"The view is very beautiful, especially if you have a chance
\nto travel from one city to another by train, like from Paris to
\nVersailles. It will be full of lights.\"<\/p>\n
Every Christmas Eve, Herpin said he and his family decorated
\nthe dining table to look its best. Food is prepared and everyone
\nexchanges small gifts.<\/p>\n
\"Just for fun,\" he said.<\/p>\n
\"That is our traditional way of celebrating Christmas.\"<\/p>\n
After midnight mass at church, worshipers hurry home from the
\ncold and continue their family gathering.<\/p>\n
How will Herpin mark the day here this year after celebrating
\nhis first Indonesian Christmas in Ubud, Bali?<\/p>\n
\"I am celebrating it with my wife, a daughter, mother-in-law,
\nand a couple of friends with one child,\" he said. \"So there will
\nbe seven of us. Christmas time for us is very special with
\nspecial food and champagne, of course.\"<\/p>",
"url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/observing-christmas-far-from-homes-hearth-1447893297",
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