It’s that time of the year again, the only time you walk into the grocery store and all they play are Christmas jingles; The colors green and red are everywhere. You know, the day that celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ, and to some the celebration of Saint Nicolas aka Santa. Well, this is the second Christmas I’ve spent in Penang (last year) and I’ve got to say: Christmas here blows. I mean, sure you have the sales everywhere, and the jingles playing and all these dinners you have to attend, but generally what this place lacks is some Merry ole time spirit, which I yearn to feel, but to some ridiculous trick by the nations culture, am not able to. I miss the feeling of the chills and then walking into a warm mall, or Chapters, with something hot to drink, and everyone is so darn retardedly happy and nice. The bookstore was my favorite place to be. It was the atmosphere and the smell of Starbucks stirred with new books that got to me – and the smiles, can’t forget the smiles. Or maybe it was because all I ever wanted for Christmas were mainly books – bookstores are my weakness, not malls.

Over here, it’s like people use Christmas as an excuse to drink and party, just like Halloween. Well, not everyone, but most! Christmas is about togetherness; when people practice sharing and caring – showing the love. I don’t know, over here it sort of feels like a gimmick, not of the real thing. However, there is a counterpoint to all this dismay, because Chinese New Year here is like no other (not that I’ve ever experienced it anywhere else though). In Canada Chinese New Year is like nothing to me, it’s just like any other week. So I guess there’s a balance to all this, instead of presents, I get dough. Actually, on closer inspection, on Christmas it’s all about giving and you have to give presents too, but on CNY you just put your hand out and receive money. I still like Christmas better though; it’s my favorite holiday.

Tis the season to be jolly fa la la la la – la la la la (Hahaha I bet Penangites are good at that song)