Traveling home for Christmas break can have obstacles such as finances and work responsibilities, according to BYU–Hawaii students. While some students shared they miss home during the break, others said they do not feel the pressure to leave the island for the holidays.
“We make Hawaii our home,” said JiaLing Li, a senior from Taiwan majoring in elementary education. She shared because many of her friends stay on campus over Christmas, she does not long to be home like she does during the school year.
“For myself, I get used to it… during school is when I get homesick because I’m so stressed.”
Sesimani Dulaki, a sophomore from Fiji majoring in hospitality and tourism management, said, “It does feel lonely at times… The meaning of Christmas for [my family] is just to be together and enjoy each other’s company.”
She said during the holiday, many of her friends in the Fiji community get together on Christmas day and have dinner, usually cooking meat in an underground oven.
Being with friends and attending activities is what Dulaki said she does to distract from being away from family. She added though being with friends helps with loneliness, it is not the same as being home.
“You don’t feel as alone, but at the same time, there’s this gap that only your family can fill.”
Dulaki said a flight to Fiji during Christmas time could cost nearly two thousand dollars and is one reason she stays at school.
Jillian Ruby, a sophomore from Colorado majoring in elementary education, said the cost of flying is an issue for her as well and is a reason for not going back to Colorado for Christmas. Though money is an obstacle for going back to the mainland, Ruby said she is not necessarily upset about staying in Hawaii during the break because “it’s not weird to not be with family.”
She added she believes feeling isolated and lonely during winter break can depend on someone’s personality and needs.
“If you are fine just hanging out and not being with people all the time, then staying over break isn’t that big a deal. But if you’re an extrovert and you need to be out and doing things, it will be a lot harder for you.”
In response to what she does during break, Ruby said, “I pretty much do the same thing I do during the school year. I read books, I watch movies and I go to work.”
Li said the main reason for staying, besides money, is Christmas is not widely celebrated in Taiwan like it is in other countries. “If I go home, everyone will be working or going to school, and they won’t even be able to spend time with me.”
She said though her family does not celebrate Christmas that much, seeing other students leave campus and be with their families can make her a little homesick as well. She added that many of her friends stay, so they spend a lot of time together over break.
“Not all of [my friends] go home, so we’re just being sad together,” she said with a laugh.
Dulaki said along with expensive flights, her job as a tour guide at the Polynesian Cultural Center also keeps her here during the break.
“[Working at PCC] does make me miss my family more, especially as Christmas approaches and people are taking family trips.” She added because of seeing many families together during the holidays at PCC, she calls her family every day.