tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7043287896001157919.post5845161257200200215..comments2024-02-25T02:00:04.601-03:00Comments on Qualidade de Vida: Christmas update from Niterói, BrazilJimhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14003236423048071844noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7043287896001157919.post-75852841427591664802011-12-28T07:34:52.058-02:002011-12-28T07:34:52.058-02:00This menu was very traditional Brazilian. Absolute...This menu was very traditional Brazilian. Absolutely nothing was missing - you are very, very lucky. Here in Holland X-mas is a very modest festivity (Calvinism is a lifestyle here), with not exactly traditional meals... no big groups or big décor. A fine meal, no music, and then everybody goes early to bed. After all, they celebrate the "real guy" with their Sinterklaas in November. They consider X-mas an American invention and Santa just a mockery/distortion of their Sinterklaas (which is in turn already a distortion of the life of a bishop from Smyrna, Turkey: Nicholas).Anitahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03565051295371049516noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7043287896001157919.post-26292268061212656282011-12-28T01:09:53.063-02:002011-12-28T01:09:53.063-02:00You're right Jim - outside the malls, there ar...You're right Jim - outside the malls, there are barely lights or decorations. Christmas could definitely go unnoticed unless you make a valiant effort to 'notice' it. <br />Jen, the culture hasn't taken over because there are still so many people who can't afford the same kind of spending in the North. That, and things are so much more expensive here! Ack! <br />We had a modest Christmas here in terms of gifts, but in terms of love and family it was big!<br /><br />Looking forward to New Years as well, Jim. What are your plans??Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15421142287093429996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7043287896001157919.post-87599917862802289432011-12-27T14:47:09.836-02:002011-12-27T14:47:09.836-02:00It was indeed a fun time. But Anon - I never went ...It was indeed a fun time. But Anon - I never went to a mall - just the streets near me. Not an overwhelming Xmas deluge.Jimhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14003236423048071844noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7043287896001157919.post-91105996496981544072011-12-27T14:24:04.377-02:002011-12-27T14:24:04.377-02:00it seems like you had a lovely event!!
how could ...it seems like you had a lovely event!!<br /><br />how could it go unnoticed to you? all the malls and stores were packed! Christmas songs , decorations , movies everywhere!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7043287896001157919.post-91254719252419703862011-12-27T12:25:24.433-02:002011-12-27T12:25:24.433-02:00Merry Christmas.
Third christmas, sometimes it ...Merry Christmas. <br /><br />Third christmas, sometimes it seems to get easier but then sometimes it seems not to. Anyway, maybe I get my white christmas next year with the baby.Ninahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15346687833675750566noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7043287896001157919.post-70558704589881578442011-12-27T10:48:32.603-02:002011-12-27T10:48:32.603-02:00I agree that the day could come and go without not...I agree that the day could come and go without notice. It is very interesting to me, how the consumer culture has not taken over completely here, drowning people in expectations and guilt.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10822419510744243455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7043287896001157919.post-12387015135123551522011-12-26T19:25:37.455-02:002011-12-26T19:25:37.455-02:00I also feel like the day could come and go without...I also feel like the day could come and go without notice and I'm glad since I'm not with my family. <br /><br />Merry Christmas!Meredithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08406213044166973862noreply@blogger.com