Dec. 19, 2021
By Alexis Goula
Staff Writer
Christmas is known as a holiday when family members come together. However, due to work schedules, distance and concerns about Covid-19, some students will be spending the holidays apart from their loved ones.
Sophomore Daniel Mabande said he will be apart from his parents this Christmas.
“This year, sadly, I am only spending Christmas with my brothers because my mom has work that day, [and] my dad is not even in the country,” Mabande said.
Mabande’s dad lives in Liberia, so they will be connecting via Zoom. He said he spent last Christmas with his grandma, sister and two older brothers, but his grandma died earlier this year.
“I am very disappointed that I will not be able to spend Christmas with some of my loved ones, but I will try to make the most of it,” Mabande said.
Mabande said he is upset he will not be able to see all of his loved ones on Christmas, but he said he is glad he will get to spend the holiday watching Christmas movies with his brothers.
Freshman Brianna Varona said she is unable to spend Christmas with her dad and brother because they live in Colombia.
It is pretty upsetting and disappointing because [I] look forward to spending the holidays together.
“This makes me feel a bit sad, but I will see them a few days after Christmas,” Varona said.
Generally, she spends Christmas with her mom and grandparents.
“I used to live in North Bergen, and now that I have moved and I am in a new home, it is going to be more special because new memories will be made,” Varona said.
She said she communicates with her relatives in Colombia using WhatsApp, and she expects to spend at least half an hour catching up with them on Christmas.
Freshman Ciara Ciarlandini said, like last year, she will be spending the holidays with her mom, dad and brother. Prior to the pandemic, she said her immediate family spent Christmas with her mom’s side of the family, but due to Covid-19, they are staying apart.
“It is pretty upsetting and disappointing because [I] look forward to spending the holidays together,” Ciarlandini said.
She said last year, her family used Zoom to come together on Christmas morning. This year, her approximately 17 family members will once again gather online.
Ciarlandini said meeting on Zoom is different from being with family in person because she does not get to hug her loved ones and have the experience of seeing them face-to-face.
“It is going to be emotional because we are so used to spending Christmas together, but now it is just different spending it apart,” said Ciarlandini.
