As an expat you hold on to your own traditions, taking comfort in the familiar, but you also learn the importance of embracing new ones. From country to town to community to school; each has its own. There are some that are serious, and while you may not immediately feel comfortable joining in, you respect your new culture; learning and appreciating the history behind their traditions and celebrations.
Then there are the local events that are, well, not so serious. Some that you may even find a little odd, or silly, or faintly ridiculous. But, there is no denying that they are fun!
Last week saw Crazy Hair Day roll around again. I wrote about this last year; a school tradition that sees the kids arrive at school in a haze of coloured hair spray and hair accessories.
This was of course the first year that the 5yo got to join in; and as with other events that he could only watch his brother enjoy previously, he was thrilled to be able to go to school with his own crazy hair.
I want a Mohican that’s on fire, he stated categorically. Um. Ok.
Having only returned from my trip to the UK the day before, I wasn’t at my most creative, but I gave it a shot and he seemed happy enough!
I realised as I was busy putting in bunches and spraying hair interesting colours that it didn’t phase me. Last year I still found the whole thing a little strange, even though it was my second year of sending the 8yo to school with mad hair.
This year I had been expecting it, looked out for the date, put it in the calendar. I made sure I had a variety of coloured hair sprays in the cupboard. I ensured that the wee girls collection of hair elastics was fully stocked.
I am finding that it isn’t the big things that make you feel at home; houses and schools and bank accounts; although they of course help. It’s the small stuff; knowing where everything is in the supermarket, supporting a local food drive, chatting to people in the street, knowing the shortcuts through town. And Crazy Hair Day.
Embracing opportunities to get involved in the school, and wider community (even if that means Crazy Hair or a Crazy Hat) makes us feel more at home.
And watching the kids run into school to show off their daft hair, well, that makes me smile.
Too funny Sara – I don’t think this is an American tradition any more because JJ’s school had wacky hair day a couple of weeks ago to coincide with Children in Need – I was unsure how much it would be embraced so I just did a last minute hair spray job (no colour) but, oh my, there were some *creations* going on! I don’t think this is the first time the school has done it. Funny how the UK is really so similar to the U.S. really – we’re just always a couple of steps behind the trends.
It’s just the sort of thing I can imagine Children in Need doing :) For me it’s more about the events that each school and community choose to do, from the many they could do. I think the US and the UK are far more similar than we sometimes think x
My girls had a crazy hair day a couple of years ago for Children in need or something like that…
What fab hair-do’s! Very funky x
Thanks Kim, just the sort of thing I would expect Children in Need to do – such a lot of fun :)
It’s great that you’re finally feeling like you’re really at home there now. I love the boys hair, I think you did a ‘mohican that’s on fire’ really well considering. There’s been a couple of crazy hair days down our way as well, usualy around children in need or red nose day. Popping in from Magic Moments.
Thanks Fiona, I think it’s all about embracing whatever ‘event’ your community or school chooses to do; and by doing that feeling part of the community x
Beautifully put and so very true I think. And I think you did a great job on the hair too :)
Thank you Iona x
I love your closing lines in this post hon, I can imagine it is all those small things that have the biggest impact as an expat family. The boys hair look super cool, I can see why they were so pleased with it! Strange traditions, but as you said once you embrace it it’s lots of fun. Lovely post xxx
Exactly, however strange something might seem, it’s about embracing it and joining in x
I would love our school to have something like this, it looks so much fun and that’s some imagination thinking up the mohican on fire :)
It was a lot of fun :)
Aww I love this post. I’m so glad you are embracing your community traditions and feeling more at home now. I have friends who moved to the States and didn’t settle in for quite some time so it’s great you are finding ways to get involved, crazy hair and all. Hey next year maybe you could join in too. Use a coat hanger and make Pippi Longstocking hair (wrap plaits around the wire sticking out) Oh you would be the star of the show :) #magicmoments
Lol, then the kids really would have something to laugh at :)
This is so cool!! You’re definitely right it’s these little traditions, however crazy they are, that makes us feel at home!! Great post! Xx
Thank you Chantelle x
Lovely post – can see how embracing the little things can really help you to feel at home and settled somewhere. I do love the boys’ crazy hair – they look fab! :-)
Thank you Louise x
Cute I love it! I love it when we have daft days at school. Alas as they get older it all kind of stops as people over the age of 13 start to take the mick a bit. We do have Christmas Jumper day soon and I am really looking forward to that! x
It is great fun, but I’m not sure these kind of days will last beyond Elementary School :)
Haha, I love this. What a great tradition, looks like lots of fun! xx
It is , the kids love it!
You did a fab job on the hair! I love that he wanted a mohican that’s on fire, that’s so funny! I do agree though, it’s joining in with the little community things that make you feel a part of it and more at home isn’t it x
It really is, thank you x
They look so cute!
It’s the same for us here in Dubai, we get to celebrate and take part with various events in the community.
#MagicMoments
It’s important to get involved, I think x
What ever event this is sounds like fun! Look at that those colors! So punk! #whatsthestory
Thanks Merlinda x
The idea is extraordinary and the crazy hair day is great! They look funny!
Thanks Mike :)
Hello there, wow they look great-well done! I love this sort of thing, I managed to persuade my little one to have a ponytail for Children in Need though I’m not sure he was quite convinced! x #magicmoments
I didn’t need to any convincing this time :)
Crazy hair indeed. Such an odd tradition, but something that I grew up participating with as well (we had spirit week from grades 7-12, and this was one of our “days” as well).
It’s so true what you say about the little things making one feel at home. It’s not so much the stuff that’s surrounding me, but the people and environment that I’m in that makes it feel more so. Thanks for sharing! Hope your day is going well.
Thanks Maria, we have many days like this, crazy hat day, school spirit day, wear red, wear green… It is definitely people and not stuff that make you feel at home x
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Now that is some seriously crazy hair. They look VERY cool – love the little top knots :) #whatsthestory
Thanks Cathie x
Do they do this to raise money or is it just for fun. What a great thing to do. It looks like the boys had fun #MagicMoments I’m playing catch up ;0) x
This one is just for fun :)