It was our first Christmas overseas. The word “overseas” is an interesting word, isn’t it? There are only two ways to cross an ocean, physically speaking, anyway–floating or flying. Our family of five chose the second choice: we flew via China Air to our new residence, the city of Ulaanbaatar in the vast country called Mongolia, where the local citizens were struggling to find their way separate from the Soviet system and to forge a new path toward democracy and capitalistic activity.
We took two duffel bags apiece with clothing, school books, and some favorite kitchen utensils. We thought we could purchase other things when we arrived. So it set us back a bit when we realized there were so few “other things” for sale on the shelves of the shops and kiosks of the city.
By the time Christmas arrived, our kitchen was well enough in order with cooking pots, plates, cups, bowls, and silverware. We had a wash basin and a tea-pot. At that time, the winter of 1995, there was a food shortage, bread rationing lines, and a total absence of eggs and margarine. Do I need to tell you–no Christmas cookies! Christmas would be different.
I should say that Christmas arrived on the calendar, but not to the city itself. Mongolia was a stranger to the wonders of Christmas. The closest they came to an understanding were the electric colored lights in their center square, Sukhbaatar Square, and the new year’s trees that the Russians imported for themselves for New Year’s Day.
So, when we found a little artificial tree standing on tip toes which was just short of two feet tall and a string of multicolored mini-lights at the food market, it was a big deal. We set up the humble tree on the table next to the sofa in the living room. We closed the doors to the hallway and cranked up the electric heater to ward off the bitter cold that permeated everything. We sat by our little tree to plan our first Christmas.
The older two children wanted to be reassured that there would be gifts. My husband and I hesitated to respond, because at this point gifts were “up for grabs.” In this situation, he meant—if f we would manage to find something, we’d grab it!
The plans continued, we could still sing! We could set up the little nativity we had brought with us which included mother Mary, father Joseph, the shepherds, and the baby Jesus. We could sing our favorite Christmas songs and could tell our English classes about the strange, strange story of God’s Son given to man nearly 2000 years before, about peace on earth and goodwill to men.
Finally, December 25th came and went. Devoid of commercialism and excessive decorating, our children experienced Christmas despite location, temperature, and size of tree. It was our first Christmas overseas. And by the way, if we had gifts, we have long since forgotten what they were.
