First Christmas in Australia cards

Nobody tells you about the heat. You expected tinsel and woollen jumpers, and instead there is a barbecue, a cricket match in the backyard and someone suggesting a swim before presents. Your family back home is wrapped up in scarves while you are hunting for sunscreen. It is a strange, funny and rather lovely first Christmas.

If you are new here, whether as a migrant, a backpacker or a student, a card is a good way to tell people back home what it is like. Pick one, write your own words inside, and send it as a link by email or text. They will want to see the sunshine.

5 things to write inside

Swap in their name. Change anything that doesn’t sound like you.

  1. funny Merry Christmas from 38 degrees, [first name]. I am eating prawns in a paddling pool. You would hate it. I love it.
  2. sweet My first Australian Christmas, and I keep thinking of yours. I miss you, [first name]. Merry Christmas.
  3. funny Happy Christmas, [first name]. Someone here has asked me to wear a Santa hat on the beach. I did. I regret nothing.
  4. quiet Different weather, same people in my thoughts. Merry Christmas, [first name].
  5. funny Merry Christmas, [first name]. The pudding is cold, the beer is cold and the cricket is going on forever. I am told this is normal.

Questions people ask

What do you write in a Christmas card from Australia to family overseas?

Describe one thing that surprised you, like the heat or a barbecue lunch, and say you miss them. A small, vivid detail makes them feel they are there. Add a joke about the sunburn if you have earned one.

How do I make sure a card reaches home on Christmas morning with the time difference?

You choose the date and time it goes out. Pick the hour that suits where they live, not where you are, and it will be waiting when they wake up on Christmas morning.

Is it normal to feel odd about a hot Christmas?

Very. Many people find it strange for the first year or two. Cold turkey meets salad and a swim, and it usually grows on you. A card home is a nice way to share the contrast.