The packages have started arriving since the first week of December. Every time a courier service man knocks on the door of our neighbor, I can see the eldest daughter running to get the box cutter. They are all excited to receive the gifts their relatives have sent from abroad.

I know the feeling of waiting for packages from abroad. My dad once worked in a big construction company in the Middle East and it took him two Christmases before he was finally able to go home. So it was several packages of gifts and knick-knacks that he sent to us before he went home.