Spend Christmas in Tahiti

Spend Christmas in Tahiti

Peter turns to me and smiles, his feet dangling in the water. “We are in Tahiti,” he says.

After 40 days in French Polynesia, this little fact still makes us smile, still makes us pause. In theory, Tahiti is not for people like us. Peter is the son of two teachers. I am one of eight siblings who grew up in London's worst area for child poverty. The point is: None of us come from money – not the kind that allows you to take a year off and spend Christmas in Tahiti.

And yet here we are.

Of course, we "tinker" everything to stay within our carefully monitored budget, but that's okay - budget travel has its own advantages. We are used to untraditional Christmases. This time last year, Peter was in India with his father, reuniting him with long-lost friends. I was in my apartment in Newbury Park, watching bad TV and eating too much chocolate.

This Christmas we'll wake up, eat breakfast (most likely pancakes because, hey, it's Christmas), bike to the water in Teahupoo, and go for a swim. Or maybe we'll take the boat out if Michel has repaired it by then.

For lunch we'll have something that can be cooked on our single stove (there's no oven, but we have a microwave), and then we might invite our hosts over for an afternoon drink. They're not celebrating this year. Bernard, a 70-year-old ex-pilot, and his wife Francois have an empty nest.

At some point during the day we will call Peter's parents via Skype to wish them a Merry Christmas and to say our love to the children in the family. I'll then spend a few hours on the book I was supposed to finish this year (interspersed with frequent trips to Facebook and Twitter, no doubt).

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We head out to see one of Teahupoo's magnificent sunsets, spend some time planning the next leg of our trip, and then maybe watch a movie to cap off the day. I suggest something sentimental because hey, it's Christmas. Peter will probably want to see Rush for the fifth time. I'll probably win.

In short, it will be both an ordinary and an extraordinary day. We wish you the same.

Merry Christmas to everyone.

Kya & Peter

Mission statement: Atlas & Boots

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