Christmas

The Christmas season is a lot more extended in this country than in my own. It began this year, a few weeks before Thanksgiving Day (not celebrated here, of course.) To put it in musical terms, it does a crescendo then a decrescendo, starting mid to late November, and ending around mid January.

December is looked forward to for many reasons. One, there is generally not so very much work done, apart from retail sales and related work. Basically, if you need something done, you don't try to get it done this month. 

Also, this is a month of family, and family rules here. This is the month that you will go back to your hometown and see all your family and friends there. You will eat a delicious feast on Noche Buena, Christmas Eve, and you will get double pay for the month. (Yep, it's a law; you get double pay.)

For an American living here, and after all, that is the point of this blog, to give an American impression of middle-class Dominican life--it is the noisiest time of the year. Of course, if you live in the wealthy areas, you won't generally have any problem. But if you live on this side of the river...well, let's just say, get out your earplugs.

Neighbors that previously kept their music at least below the pain threshold, although it was quite loud, now feel that in the spirit of the season, they must turn it up even higher. Your cement walls aren't vibrating, but you are!

It's also the time of year when a lot of drinking happens. I'm not sure but what it's always that time of the year, but I do notice that each year around Christmas, the National Police start putting restrictions on noise, and curbing the hours of the drinking establishments.

For a lot of people it is like a two month party. Now people do still have to work, but there is just a lot more happening. Parties at schools, at churches, in neighborhoods--hey, it's not that different than at home, other than the noise level.

It is a time to be laid back and not be the tense American. Because getting annoyed that whatever you were promised for next week won't really get done till some time in January, will do you absolutely no good. Trying to get neighbors to lower the music will only cause them to dislike you; they won't lower it. It's a Christmas tradition, you blockhead foreigner!  Instead, you have to come to accept the fact that these things are just part of this Dominican Life.