Posts

Showing posts from December, 2013

Christmas in Nigeria

Image
Hi everyone :) The christmas lights and decorations have gone up all over Norwich and things looks so festive and beautiful. Since I won't be going back home this Christmas, I decided to paint a picture of what christmas is like in Nigeria - just so I dont miss it tooo much! There's many similarities between a British and Nigerian christmas, but also a lot of differences. We usually have the same types of decorations up around the country to mark the festive season, but a zero percent liklehood of snow :) The weather in Nigeria is tropical all year round, so that itself creates a very different atmosphere. I know a lot of people can't imagine Christmas without snow, whereas most Nigerians prefer to appreciate snow from a distance (pictures, movies etc) - we love our heat ! People tend to have fake fir christmas trees up in their homes although those dont grow in our country. But we also decorate our palm trees with lights!     Christmas is also very much

Christmas in Korea

Image
Hi. Today, I'm going to talk about Christmas in Korea. Christmas in Korea is quite different from Christmas in the UK.   Most childeren get presents from their parents but that's it. We don't really have a Christmas meal together and so on unless they're Christians. Some Christians go to church on the Christmas day and celebrate Christmas with other friends at their church. What is interesting about Korean Christmas is that Christmas day is very much like a 'Couple's day'. Most of the couples in Korea go somewhere nice for dinner. (Oh, unlike the British Christmas day, everywhere is VERY busy on Christmas in Korea!) I remember once when I was 18, I went to a romantic place with lots of pretty Christmas lightings in Seoul with my boyfriend and I literally couldn't move at all as that place was full of other couples! I was moved by other people as they were just pushing me. After that experience, I never go outside on Christmas in

12 grapes for a New Year.

Image
Hi everybody!   I'm here today to talk about quite a strange custom we have in Spain.   On New Year's Eve, when the clock strikes twelve, most of Spain is glued to the television, where the beautiful clock from Madrid's Puerta del Sol is broadcast. Picture: ailmadrid.blogspot.com   With every strike of the clock, we eat a grape! They are called 'the twelve grapes of good luck', and it is believed that eating them will provide you good luck and happiness for the year.   This tradition is not too old, though. It is likely to have started when Alicantese vine growers had a grape surplus at the end of the 19th or the beginning of the 20th century.   So, to cut a long story short, in Spain we start every year by eating grapes. It is a quite exciting thing to do, and somehow we never end up eating them all in time! And of course, once the new year has been welcomed like this, we have a toast with champagne or cava.   Merry Christmas and Happy

Beautiful Norwich during Christmas!

Image
Christmas in Norwich is too exciting and beautiful! One or two months before Christmas time, people begin planning and doing their shopping. You never see our city as much busy in any other time!   Here are a couple of photos from Norwich's city centre during the lights switch on this year If you are staying in Norwich during the holidays, here is a guide of events that will be going on! http://www.visitnorwich.co.uk/documents/665.pdf       Happy holidays!! :)   Shaima'a Middle East Ambbasador

Korean Society Christmas Dinner Party !

Image
Hi I'm back! Yesterday (5th, Dec), the UEA Korean society had the very first Christmas dinner party at the Assembly house. Great food, Great atmosphere and Great company! It was AWESOME. Played a few games after dinner as well :) So I'm going to post some pics from last night ! Pictures were taken by Jun. Enjoy! Craker time! :)    Korean Society Committee members :)   Draw on your head! Memory test :)  Concentrate, concentrate..  Musical Chairs for boys   Musical Chairs for girls     So, this is it! Hope you enjoyed these pics and Merry Christmas!! xx   Saem - Korean Ambassador    

Traditional French Christmas

Image
A French Christmas After emptying my knowledge to find a good subject to interest you guys, I thought of the most obvious subject right now : Christmas. Obviously, we are all waiting for the Big Day to come to have our gifts, give ours and share a delicious meal and day in families. You may think every Christmas day looks the same all over the world but it isn't the case and that's why, I'm going to show you my typical Christmas.     December 24th :     - Decorate the " Crèche" (the crib) which is a clay house and dolls that represent the Chris's birth with Mary, Joseph, the ani;als and the 3 Kings       - Have a great little meal with : Soup, Gratin Dauphinois (Potato Gratin) or Hachis Parentier and lat but not least Chocolate Yule Log with Mullen Wine       - Put all our shoes around the tree    - Prepare a wine glass for Santa - Some goes to the church to sing the Carols while the others watch the most Christm

London: Portobello Market, Notting Hill !!

Image
Hi all, Most of you out there love London, due to its diversity, tasty food, enterntainment and lets not forget .....shopping!!! So recently I visited some friends for the weekend and discovered another more vintage and very cute side of London, which is a nice change to the vibrant and busy streets of central London. Portobello Market in West London is one of the most famous street markets in the world. It is a popular destination for Londoners and tourists alike. Portobello Road goes straight through the heart of Notting Hill, the trendy area of London made famous by the film Notting Hill. I tried to find the set locations: the blue door, the travel bookshop, the garden fence and so on but I have to admit it was not that easy! I absolutely loved this place! Amazing food, from various countries ranging from paellas to hot dogs and great sweet/desert to cater for your sweet tooth (amazing pancakes and they are everywhere!!!! I was tempted to have more than one).