View from Outside: New York

Hello good people!

As the year draws to an end, I’m still in disbelief at how this year has gone by with what feels like the blink of an eye. The end of the year also means that the holiday season and particularly Christmas are upon us.

This means lots of time spent time bonding with family and friends, plenty of love, laughter, food, and good times. As a through and through South African, the “festive season” as we know it, is always greatly anticipated by all. For us, this period is the season for friends, family, braais (barbecues), celebration and pure madness. So being away from home at this time, makes me feel somewhat homesick. Up until now, I’ve been experiencing this jolly season vicariously through my friends’ status updates on Facebook and Twitter.

The good news  is that I get to go home in a few days for the Christmas break, even if only for a short while. Completely beside myself with excitement, I am really looking forward to spending time with the loves of my life. I am also  uncontrollably excited at the thought of a two week summer break from the increasingly harsh winter that we’ve been slapped with here in New York. Typical South African summer days and long summer nights are what I find myself day dreaming about these days.

New York of course, is alive with the holiday spirit in true American fashion. Colourful, beautifully lit and decorated trees, street lights and homes provide a stunning background to the joy and excitement that has taken ahold of the city.

A great example of New Yorkers’ festive spirit came in the form of a crowd of men and women that we came across the other day, who were all adorned in Santa Claus costumes and out on a pub crawl around Manhattan at 10am! Apparently there was nothing unusual about this, as this is an event called the ‘SantaCon Pub Crawl’ that takes place in the city annually and attracts thousands of participants.

 Another instance which is also testamentary to the holiday madness that has taken over New York, was when my friend and I went out to do some Christmas shopping on what is ordinarily a civilized 5th Avenue.

Hoping to take advantage of the holiday sales and specials, we went out on a shopping excursion which we were forced to abandon when 5th Avenue on that day looked more like a disorderly street market than the 5th Avenue that we have come to know.

The crowds were crazy and we were reminded that we are after all living in a capitalist country where consumerism is king.
On that festive note, I wish you all a superb holiday season, and encourage you to stay safe and look after yourselves!