Whoever says new culture, says new holidays.
As an exchange student from Belgium, Thanksgiving is one of the new holidays for me. It is a day of sharing and thanking for what life gives us, a moment when the whole family gathers to share a good meal and watch the football match. I found this moment very friendly and pleasant because it was a moment of sharing during the meal but also before during the preparation of the meal.
The day after is Black Friday. Black Friday is not completely new to me, but here it is a different approach. In Belgium, this Friday, the children are at school, the adults at work and almost no one pays attention to them. Most stores do not offer discounts. Here, it’s a completely different approach. Almost all the stores make discounts and some are even impressive. People get up early to be the first in the store and be able to do a large number of stores during the day. It is a day of madness compared to my home.
After these two days, it is Christmas time that begins. The decorations are put up outside the houses but also inside. The decorations are magnificent and incredible; in my country they are minimal and are not put on before December 20. The preparation of gifts begins, the stores are filled with decorations and gift ideas. The wish lists are made for each family member, gifts ordered online start to arrive. This is a time period that I could find exuberant, in the good sense of the term, but also very interesting, and, I think, incredible to live as an experience. Everyone loves Christmas, I feel like it’s the best party of the year here. The fact that snow has arrived adds a plus, a real Christmas spirit felt anywhere.
I wonder what the next vacation might look like and I am looking forward to discovering it.
