Monday 2 February 2004

culture Shocks

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Hello ^fname^,


This is Nucha Aquino from Thailand/Philippines.  
Welcome to our Small World. We are sending this 
ezine to 2900 readers today.


We publish weekdays. The schedule is roughly like this:
 > Monday - Culture Shock
 > Tuesday - Traveller's Insights
 > Wednesday - International Recipes
 > Thursday - Q&A and Miscellaneous Talks
 > Friday/Saturday - Paid Solo Ads 

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Hope this is not too late to say, "Happy New Year" to you
all ;-)

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Eat 12 Delicious Grapes...
Achieve Good Fortune...
Enjoy Your Prosperous New Year


by Robert Leggett
Copyright (c) January 2004



New Years Eve in Pilar de la Horadada, España? Eat 12
grapes? In the Town Square in front of the Church there? Eat
1 grape per bell gong? Wha....?

This would not be visiting Times Square in New York City.
This would not be partyhopping. This would not be a planned
event in a restaurant or social hall.

We arrived about 10:30pm. The streets were deserted. It was
cold. There were lots of parking spaces...even on the
Square. We asked a small group in our broken Spanish,
"Fiesta aqui esta noche?" "Si...a las doce."

We hiked around a bit and noticed some bars with a few
people inside but the entrance gates closed...they would
open up early next year. We peered into a British
pub...which was open...and decided to hike some more. We
noticed a lot of righthand drive British cars parked. We
enjoy the Englishspeaking movies in Pilar. We postered
these windscreens with the upcoming movie.

Geee...it's still about an hour before the Big Event. Let's
enjoy a bit of brandy in that pub. Oh...yes...just the spot.
We met Alex...an expat Brit who has lived here for many
years. What an amazing source of information...politics,
politicians, real estate, culture...welltraveled. As the
final 15 minutes of 2003 approached...we all walked across
the street into the Square.

We were led to a line where they were passing out free
bottles of celebratory bubbly, a bag of celebratory
paraphernalia, and a package containing 12 magical
grapes...compliments of the Town. Tax dollars at work...yea!

We strolled to the front of the Church, opened our bags of
grapes and listened for the first gong. We were told we must
be patient and not get into the other goodies. It is
tradition...do that after downing the dozen grapes. Those
gongs come in fairly rapid succession. Well...stuff my face!
I did each grape on time! Next year I'll do even
better...I'll first empty the bag and hold all 12 grapes in
one hand...hope I don't break any traditions.
With all the celebrators about, it seemed a lot warmer than
before...especially after all that celebratory bubbly
magically disappeared. We all got our first exercise in the
New Year...throwing stringers, blowing up and popping
balloons, getting lei'd, huffing and puffing through
noisemakers, putting on a party hat with too short a
string, fitting a mask under my glasses, and kissing/being
kissed by a multitude of strangers.

Alex, our cultural mentor, returned to the pub...and a
celebratory meal...and later would go barhopping. We were
not sure what we would do. We had eaten beforehand. We met a
19yearold who may have been either Italian or Spanish.
Very interesting guy...knew a little English, French,
Italian, German, but likely mostly Spanish. He might have
become our next cultural mentor...but being 1:30am we
instead headed back north (or is it east)...I feel somewhat
magnetically challenged in the Costa Blanca area.

We were told this delightful Spanish New Years Eve event is
disappearing. It is a shame. Our lives need more generous
outpouring of warmth and goodness. If we are near Pilar de
la Horadada next New Years Eve...we will enjoy another
booster shot of generosity and goodness. And...yes...we are
already feeling good fortune coming our way. We will enjoy
our Prosperous New Year.



----------------- 


Robert Leggett has over ten years experience marketing Dive 
Adventures over the Internet. Robert helps individuals and 
businesses globally grow their businesses and enrich 
their lifestyles. Learn more - 
( http://www.EarnYourLiving.com ). 
Subscribe to his "Free for Life" newsletter - 
"CyberSpaceMarketeer" - Receive your Free eGift. 
              

 

 

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Nucha Aquino

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