Nauru as an island reminds everyone that Christmas is coming with extravagantly decorated homes and shops all around the one road lap. The talk was that there was a prize of $10,000 for the best decorated home, and so the neon combinations, the more the better, they are seen to be more than impressive!
This, and seeing the way people live quite simply here, brought the festive season into such perspective.
Workers going home on their nightly bus ride home from work around the island brought the Christmas cheer to through the windows. Plus, the local versions of Christmas songs on repeat on the bus radio!
On the morning, after a bit of a Christmas Eve drinking session with new friends along the beach, work places will have a staff Christmas breakfast down along the beach at the hotel where service staff and foreign guests are staying. Pancakes and cheer was on the menu, and it started the day off with such joy and mutual support in this strangest of living circumstances.
The whole day will always be full of smiles and “Merry Christmas” wishes from fellow colleagues, and also clients. There will be a fully multicultural lunch in with the people from neighbouring houses and family. Which feels very special to be part of.
