For countries in the Western world, Christmas is the most important family holiday. But many international students in Copenhagen are far from home, with no opportunity to go back to celebrate.<\/p>\n
Carlos Mauricio Casta\u00f1o D\u00edaz, in short – Mauro, is one of them. He has never been so far away from his family at this time of year before. And everything about this Christmas is different.<\/p>\n
\u00bbUsually there are about fifteen to twenty people at my house on Christmas Eve and we sit around the Christmas tree\u00ab, Mauro says.<\/p>\n
Instead, his plan this year involves staying in his room and cooking soup and potatoes.<\/p>\n
Mauro\u2019s original plan for the holidays was to travel here in Europe. But since he is trying to save money he decided to stay here in the city. <\/p>\n
\u00bbI really want to go home but I can\u2019t. So I have to stay here. I am a little worried that I will get depressed over it\u00ab he says to the University Post. <\/p>\n
A full degree student in Cognition and Communication at the University of Copenhagen, he moved here from Columbia in August. It is his first time in Denmark. <\/p>\n
This is the first time that Mauro is abroad and away from his family Christmas Eve. Back home he is used to spending Christmas with his whole family. Everyone comes together to eat, laugh, give presents and take pictures. <\/p>\n
But getting back to Guarne in Columbia is too far and too expensive. <\/p>\n
\u00bbIt is going to be very different for me to be alone this year on his favorite holiday of the year,\u00ab he thinks, before adding in a sombre tone. \u00bbI already miss my family.\u00ab <\/p>\n
Mauro\u2019s favorite Christmas meal back home is barbequed meat and sausages. Now all he has is his soup and potatoes.<\/p>\n
Not to get bogged down, Mauro went for his first traditional Danish Christmas meal just recently, the so-called \u2018Julefrokost\u2019. He tried new things that he had never tasted before like duck and cranberries. <\/p>\n
These are not the only new things that Mauro is experiencing. He has just seen snow for the first time, has made a snowman and has been involved in a snow fight. <\/p>\n
\u00bbIt was amazing. All I could think was Oh my God!, it is so beautiful\u00ab Mauro said of the first time he saw snow.<\/p>\n
He originally planned on spending time with his family through Skype. Then he could talk to them and feel like he is a part of their night. <\/p>\n
But now he thinks that it will be all too sad. Perhaps he should meet other international students instead?, he reasons.<\/p>\n
Uni-avis@adm.ku.dk<\/p>\n
Going to stay here in Copenhagen over the holidays, and nowhere to go?<\/p>\n
Tell us what you are doing below or by writing to uni-avis@adm.ku.dk. Maybe you could meet up with students in the same situation!<\/p>\n