Feliz Nevada
Feliz Natal
vrolijk Kerstfeest
圣诞节快乐
Joyeux Noël
Frohe Weihnachten
С Рождеством
メリークリスマス
Buon Natale
Wesołych Świąt
Nadolig Llawen
Es ist Zeit für die Weihnachtsmärkte!
Ich kann es nicht glauben wie schnell hier die Zeit ist gegangen! Es fühlt sich an wie zwei Minuten seit meiner Ankunft hier in Deutschland und jetzt ist es fast Weihnachten! Ich habe schon so viele Leute kennengelernt, die aus verschiedenen Hintergründen und Kulturen sind und ich hoffe, dass mein Deutsch immer besser ist.
Meine Mutter und meine Schwester haben mir kürzlich besucht und ich zeigte ihnen die Sehenswürdigkeiten von Bonn. Wir ging einen Spaziergang entlang des Flusses Rhein und meine Schwester war sehr aufgeregt als ich ihr sagte, dass es eine Haribo Fabrik in Bonn gab. Also besuchten wir der Haribo Laden und meine Mutter sagte, dass sie irgendwelche Süßigkeiten wählen könnte, dass sie wollte. Wir besuchten auch das Geburtshaus von Beethoven, die im Zentrum von Bonn liegt und wir hatten eine Führung.
Die Weihnachtsmärkte kam nach Bonn in diesem Monat! Ich ging mit meinen Kollegen von der Arbeit zum Weihnachtsmarkt und wir schauten um und dann hatte ich meine erste Glühwein. Wir haben, in England, ähnliche Weihnachtsmärkte aber ich denke, dass die Märkte in Deutschland sind viel besser und kunstvoller.
Ich lerne auch viel bei der Arbeit, nicht nur Deutsch, aber ich lerne auch viel über die Paralympische Bewegung und die kommenden Paralympischen Spiele in Rio, dass im nächsten Jahr stattfinden wird. Es ist sehr angenehm, ein Teil der Paralympics zu sein und auch zu sehen, was man muss für die Spiele zu organisieren.
Ich versuche und nehme immer jede Gelegenheit, Deutsch zu sprechen. Es ist ein bisschen schwer weil Deutsch nicht meine Muttersprache ist aber ich hoffe, dass ich besser auf Deutsch werde, besonders wenn ich mehr praktizieren. Ich habe es bemerkt, dass ich in einer kleine Menge an Zeit viel Deutsch Wörter gelernt – es ist ganz bemerkenswert!
Wenn ich zurückkomme nach Deutschland von Weihnachten zu Hause, dann werde ich drei Monate haben, bei der Internationale Paralympische Kommittee zu arbeiten bevor werde ich nach Augsburg gehen, um meine Studienaufenthalt an der Universität zu beginnen.
Es ist sehr nervenaufreibend weil ich nach ein andere Ort umziehen werde aber es ist auch spannend weil ich viele neue Leute treffen werde und ich freue mich darauf!
ENGLISH TRANSLATION:
It’s Christmas Market time!
I can’t believe how quickly my time here has gone! It feels like two minutes ago that I arrived here in Germany and now it is nearly Christmas! I have already met so many people from different backgrounds and cultures and I hope that my German is steadily improving.
My mum and my sister recently visited me and I was able to show them around Bonn and Cologne. We went for walks along the river Rhein and my sister was very excited when I told her that the Haribo factory is here in Bonn so we visited the Haribo store and she was able to choose any sweets that she wanted. We also visited Beethoven’s birth house, which is located in the centre of Bonn and we were able to have a guided tour.
The Christmas markets also arrived in Bonn this month! I went with my colleagues from work and we looked around the markets and I had my first ever Glühwein. We have the same sort of markets in England, however, I think that the ones here in Germany are much better and more elaborate.
I am learning a lot at work as well, not only German but also about the Paralympic Movement and the upcoming Paralympic Games in Rio next year. It is so enjoyable to be even a small part of the Paralympics and to see how much organisation goes into these games.
I am constantly trying to use my German at every opportunity I get. It is always a bit difficult because German is not my native language but I am hoping that I will get better the more I practise. I didn’t realise how many new words I have already learnt in such a small space of time – it’s quite remarkable!
When I return from Christmas, I will have about 3 months left of working here at the International Paralympic Committee before I move to Augsburg to start my study placement at the University. It is very nerve-wracking to think that I will have to move somewhere else and start over again, but it is also exciting to think about all the new people I will meet and I am very much looking forward to it!
Navidad en Cádiz!
Todavía no parece así, pero casi está Navidad! Normalmente habría mucha nieve al suelo y tendría un árbol bonito en mi casa, pero este año que no; este año todavía hace bastante calor y no he visto ningunas nubes hace muchas semanas! Navidad en Cádiz por seguro es algo completamente diferente. Trabajo ahorra está muy tranquilo porque no hay tantos estudiantes en la escuela y esperamos enero hasta que empezamos más cosas, pero todavía hay unas cositas las que tengo que hacer.
Con respeto al trabajo, mi jefa me ha dicho que yo estoy encargado de una campaña en la que queremos mejorar nuestra presencia en las redes sociales. Esta campaña incluye tareas en las que tengo que buscar artículos interesantes y relevante para compartirlos, además tengo que hacer un curso de “Marketing para las redes sociales.” A mí me parece que esa vale mucho porque puedo ver el desarrollo desde el comienzo hasta el fin, e yo puedo gestionar mi propios objetivos y horarios. En el año nuevo, espero que pueda hacer más tareas similares así que puedo desarrollar mis propias habilidades y puedo utilizar español en mi propia manera. Además, todavía hago comunicaciones corporativas y traducciones, así espero que mi español empresario siga mejorando.
Había menos partidos de rugby desde hace mi último publicación porque toda la gente les están preparando para las vacaciones, pero eso no significa que ha desaparecido el lado social. Este fin de semana pasado tuvimos una cena navidad para el club y diría que eso era la primera vez en la que me he sentido el espíritu de navidad aquí en España.
ENGLISH TRANSLATION:
Christmas in Cadiz!
It doesn’t feel like it yet but Christmas is just around the corner! Normally I would see snow on the floor and have a beautiful green tree in my house, but not this year; this year it is still pretty warm and I haven’t seen a cloud for weeks! Christmas in Cadiz really is like nothing else. Work has quietened down recently as there have been less students and we are saving a lot of work until January but there are still little bits and bobs to do nevertheless.
With regards to work, I have been put in charge of a campaign to increase our social media presence; this includes finding interesting and relevant articles in Spanish to share, as well as taking part in a course aimed at Social Media marketing. I find this very rewarding because I have been involved from start to finish and I am able to manage my own targets and timetable. In the New Year I hope to be put in charge of more campaigns like this so that I can develop my own skills and am able to use my Spanish in my own way. On top of this, I have still been involved with corporate communications and translations so I hope that my business Spanish is improving as well.
There have been less rugby matches since my last post as everyone gets ready for the holiday period but that doesn’t mean that the social side has disappeared. Just this weekend we had a lovely Christmas dinner at a club and it is the first time this year that I have felt the Christmas spirit here in Spain.
虽然中国是一个历史上有宗教迫害，名义上无神论的国家，圣诞节现在 很流行。在每个购物中心里你看见圣诞节树， 每个商店 充满趁圣诞节折的顾客。不过，圣诞节的庆典一定有阴暗面。
中国政府强制各种各样的限制，从在北京城市里禁止基督教颂歌到禁止某种的圣诞节饰。我们看不见传统基督教饰装饰圣诞节树 – 红心和可爱的动物代替金星和牧羊人。最惊爆的例子是’SantaCon’ – 每年大学学生（大部分是西方人）穿着圣诞老人服装在北京旅行以让人分享圣诞节的喜悦。我们看见穿着制服以及穿着便衣警察从早到晚围观他们。
限制庆祝圣诞节可能是政府试着牵制基督教不停地兴起的方法。基督教正在以空前的速率方兴未艾。因为许多基督会众暗中聚集，估计现在的中国基督者数目不等从六百万到一千万。有的人认为在中国，基督者数目比共产党员的多。政府围观政府管理的教堂，可是当局不干涉这些教堂的事情，以及当局视而不见非法的教堂。中国政府和基督教的矛盾一定让政府忧虑。的确，亘古通今宗教是专制国家的罩门。
虽然当局镇压圣诞节的宗教方面，当局一定不镇压圣诞节的经济方面。挥霍无度的西式联欢以及给礼物一定繁荣经济。圣诞节的 经济价值一定对当局重要得不能完全禁止庆祝圣诞节。但是很严重，奇异的圣诞节限制表示宗教的权力受到中国政府的崇敬。
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
Despite being a nominally atheist state with a dark history of religious persecution, particularly of Christians, Christmas is booming in China. Christmas trees appeared in every shopping mall and shops were filled with customers taking advantage of Christmas promotions. However, there is a darker side to the festivities.
A multitude of prohibitions and restrictions on celebrations are enforced, from a ban on carol singing within the city of Beijing to restrictions on the type of decorations allowed. Traditional religious decorations were noticeably absent from public trees, with stars and shepherds replaced by hearts and cute animals. Perhaps the most striking example is that of SantaCon – when (mostly Western) students dress up in Santa costumes and travel round Beijing spreading Christmas cheer. Both uniformed and suspected plain-clothed police were watching them closely throughout the day.
This careful control of Christmas is seemingly an attempt by the state to curb the seemingly unstoppable rise of Christianity. The religion is growing at an unprecedented rate in China. Due to the underground nature of many churches, estimates of the current number of Christians in China vary widely from 60 million to 100 million, with some claiming that there are now more practicing Christians in China than there are members of the Communist party. While the government carefully watches, but does not interfere too much with the state approved churches, and turns a blind eye to the underground ones for now, it is undoubtedly concerned by the rise of a potential rival ideology. Indeed, religion has been the Achilles heel of authoritarian states throughout history.
While the religious aspect of Christmas may be discouraged by the state, the materialistic aspect is certainly not. Extravagant Western-style celebrations and gift giving give the Chinese people a chance to spend some of their growing wealth, undoubtedly giving the economy a boost.
While the economic value of Christmas is undoubtedly valued by the state too much to completely ban celebrations, the strict, seemingly bizarre restrictions are perhaps testament to the healthy respect of the government for the power of religion.
当中国朋友对我提出“你要怎么过春节？”这个问题，我回答他们说：在中国做个没有家可归的外国人，过一个注重家庭的节日其实很难。不过，我已经体验过这种困难，那就是去年12月25日的时候。
圣诞节快要到了，好多同学已经正在坐回国的飞机上呢。留在中国的同学呢，有其他计划。对我们其中大部分同学来说，这一次是第一次在外地过圣诞节。随着圣诞节的来临，中国肯定缺乏英国的疯狂。在大量的公共场所、商店、酒吧、都安装了圣诞节的装饰，可是节日气氛还不如在国内的。给我带来最真正的家庭般感觉是去听我室友在胡同里唱圣诞颂歌。
毫无疑问，在北京过一个传统的圣诞节是绝对不肯能的，所以我们就决定趁这个放纵自我的机会。因此，我们在北京瑞吉的圣诞节自助餐预订桌子。附近的一家超市突然开始卖圣诞树，所以我们好容易才把一棵拿回家，让彩色小灯光照着客厅，还装饰了金属丝。说实话，都看起来挺滑稽可笑的。但是，圣诞节那天亮了，我们认真的送礼物和遥远的家人给我们寄来的东西。
参加大自助餐是一种果粉。服务员总是呼之即来，手里拿着凉香槟酒。在大堂里摆着一场盛宴。摆着传统的圣诞节烤火鸡、日本的寿司、大姜饼屋、各种奶酪、水果、面包类的、蛋糕、冰淇淋、沙拉、烤烧、甚至还有北京烤鸭。这场盛宴是对精神和肚子的双重挑战。我们慢慢地吃到喝到麻木了。
不送礼物就不能算是圣诞节，我们送的小惊喜没让人失望，惊喜包括一件豹纹连体衣和两个生洋葱。后来，我们突然决定玩保龄球去，在外国过圣诞节，什么比保龄球好主意？保龄球馆的服务员却不太欢迎我们协调性较差的一群人。
窝在床上跟准备圣诞节大餐的家人Skype那天就结束了。家里的距离感很强，可是看到亲戚在我眼前（即使是通过电脑）办哪些很熟的顺序，却让家里好像没有那么远似的。
ENGLISH TRANSLATION
When my Chinese friends ask me how I will celebrate New Year, I tell them that it is difficult to celebrate a family-orientated festival when you are a foreigner without any family to return to in China. However, I found myself in not too dissimilar a predicament when it came to the 25th of December last year.
Christmas was almost upon us, and many classmates were already on flights destined for home. The few of us remaining in China, however, had to make other plans. For most of us, it was the first time ever to spend this time away from family. The run up to Christmas here was a far cry from what can almost be described as madness back in the UK. In most public places, shops and bars sprung up festive decorations and installations- but the festive spirit and present-buying-fervour was still left to be desired. The closest I felt to home was listening to my room-mate sing carols in the hutongs.
Seeing as a traditional Christmas was seeming well out of the question, we decided the occasion best warranted a spell of self indulgence. Hence we booked a table at one of Beijing’s best Christmas day buffets at the St Regis hotel. The local supermarket suddenly appeared to be selling Christmas trees, so we trekked one home and set the apartment a-twinkling with fairy lights and tinsel. It all seemed rather comic and brash. Still, when the day itself dawned we earnestly swapped stockings, gifts, and parcels sent by family from afar.
The buffet itself was an exercise in excess. Waiters and waitresses waited on our beck and call with bottles of chilled champagne; in the main hall was an impressive array of everything from traditional Christmas roast, including a whole turkey, to more fusion areas of sushi. A giant gingerbread house took place of honour over looking subsidiary spreads of cheese, fruits, breads, cakes, ice cream, salads, grilled delights and even Peking duck. It was not only a challenge for the stomach, but a metal test too, as we gradually fell deeper and deeper into a food stupor.
It wouldn’t be a Christmas meal without an exchange of silly gifts of some sort- and seeing as we lacked crackers we fell back on secret santa, which did not fail to disappoint with people unwrapping such surprises as a leopard print leotard and two whole raw onions (don’t ask why). Afterwards, what better activity to do on Christmas day in a foreign city than go bowling? It’s safe to say the bowling staff did not seem to be amused by a rather raucous group of “old whiteys” (laowai) turning up with seemingly no coordination or aim left in them whatsoever.
The day came to a close tucked up in bed on Skype to my family preparing Christmas dinner. Home felt a world away, and yet seeing the all too familiar processes, even over web-cam, bought it a little closer.