If during this week you go to food stores which cater to an international clientele, you will find many people looking for food that reminds them of their growing up, their traditions, and their celebrations. I was at such a store yesterday and became tear-eyed to see how many international people like me, were almost frantically looking for a spark of recognition in those aisles.

There was a particular woman who started a conversation about some special food that she was looking for: They remind me of my country, she said. And then she found some and was very proudly showing them to my son and me. She was ecstatic and told us that although she is an American citizen, she truly misses her beloved Scotland, especially at this time of the year.

Scotland, New Zealand, El Salvador, Switzerland, Brazil it matters not where the person is from. Holidays are very hard times for those of us who are foreign-born and who have family ties and connections in another country. We miss our family members, we miss our customs, we miss our friends and, very important, we miss our own cuisine.

Christmas and New Years celebrations are sorely missed, especially because many times, we cant go back to our countries and meet those we love the most to spend such special time. This can be a sad time.

And it is not only from our side. Our people living somewhere else also put a little pressure: Are you coming for Christmas? they asked filled with hope. See? They miss us too. We feel guilty, we feel, lonely, we feel abandoned, we feel sorry, we feel divided.

So what must we do to make the season something special, even though we dont feel too good about it? Here are some suggestions:

1. Keep in touch with your loved ones, by phone, Skype (free!), email, etc. This is crucial.

2. Try to emulate your own traditions. Set up a Christmas tree or put up decorations that are meaningful to you and that remind you of your own culture.

3. Prepare something special that you used to eat. Make it from scratch if you cant buy it. I used to bake my own Pannetones before I could find them in the stores. It is not the same, but it will do.

4. Pamper yourself. Give yourself some meaningful little presents that will make you feel good.

5. Find like-minded people to share special moments, so that you dont feel lonely.

6. Eat and drink to your hearts content but stop before you feel bad about it.

7. Separate some time for the sacredness of the season. Pray, chant, dance in honor of Spirit and as a jubilation for the clean slate that is given to us every 365 days.

Happy Holly Days and a Blessed New Year to you!