NO MARMITE IN TUNISIA
Life In Tunisia For British Expats
Winter In Tunisia
One of the signs of winter in Tunisia are oranges. On the trees, or lying on the ground - they are everywhere!
Today is the morning of 2nd December 2006, flowers are still blooming and the weather still mild enough, even for shorts!
What a difference a few hours makes!
By midday roads had turned into rivers!!
She stepped in a puddle
Right up to her middle!
Compared to Britain's drizzle, Tunisia's rain is like receiving a short, sharp bucket thrown all over you!! And whilst we are on the subject......How about Tunisia's storms?!! Loud and ferocious with a few power-cuts thrown in for good measure!!
Thankfully never lasting long, Tunisia's blue skies are soon back again.
Our back garden, Beni Khiar, Tunisia, December 2006
So how are you finding life in Tunisia during the winter? Anybody who would like to contribute to this page, please email me. How will those of us not going back to England for the holidays, be celebrating Christmas and the New Year? Send in your thoughts and photographs!
nomarmiteintunisia@yahoo.fr
|
21ST INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL NEAPOLIS FOR KIDS THEATRE Children's theatre groups from 20 different countries performing in Nabeul |
Thank you Helen
Shanna enjoys the heart-shaped
Marmites that you sent us from England
|
FREE BEGINNER INTERNET COURSES The internet provider Wanadoo (Planet) are asking for children aged between 7 and 12, who would like to become 'Champions of the Internet' if they would like to attend FREE beginner courses held in Sousse between the dates of 18th to the 30th December. If you would like to participate just go along to their new office at Agence PlaNet, Avenue 7 Novembre, Khezama, Sousse |
I have not spotted many adverts either on the internet or in the Tunisian newspapers indicating special events for New Year, but have been reliably informed that all hotels hold special events, which people book well in advance of the actual night. One such announcement that I did manage to spot, I have included the details below. If anybody knows of any more, please email me and let me know, otherwise take plenty of photos and send them to me describing how you celebrated the New Year in Tunisia.
|
HOTEL DAR ISMAIL*****, TABARKA |
Children Of The World
Sunday 28th January saw a special event taking place in the main, large sports stadium in Nabeul. Both photographers and the television channel Tunisie 7 were taking photographs and filming the extravanganza being held.
Children from many different schools across Nabeul, Hammamet and surrounding districts dressed up in traditional costumes and brought traditional dishes as they celebrated the event's theme 'Children Of The World.'
The effort and hours put into the costumes and makeup were plain to see. As were the hours of practise that the children must have put into the little dance routines that accompanied their parading around the arena. Spanish, Dutch, Mexican, South African, Saudi Arabian, and Japanese atire, amongst many others, were applauded time and time again by the huge numbers of proud parents and relatives filling the stands.
Below are some photographs of the many, amazing, different nationalities portrayed by the children. Tunisie 7 should be showing the event on television on a Sunday morning in two week's time.
Click photos to enlarge
Visit the following website for all Union Jack purchases, whether it is for fancy dress, or just for plain sentimental reasons whilst living abroad, you can take your pick from anything from hats, teeshirts and flags, to sunglasses, duvets, scarves, wigs, ponchos or mousemats! Fast and friendly service, with no extra cost for international delivery!
http://www.unionjackwear.co.uk
It's Nearly Spring
Update
7th March 2007. We have now spent two winters in Tunisia. Apart from the odd few hiccups with the weather, you would not really have noticed this year that we have had a winter. Already the temperatures have been hitting 25 degrees celcius! Last winter was different again, and I can remember many days walking around, wrapped in a blanket, drinking hot chocolate, dreaming of central heating and fluffy carpets in England!
On the whole, we are lucky with the weather, here in Tunisia, with winter arriving late and spring arriving early. But what other things are similar to the British wintertime?
-
Many shops, hotels and restaurants decorate for Christmas with a few streamers and a little Christmas tree. Hotels will sometimes bring in Santa Claus to keep the children happy!
-
Whilst there is no official holiday for Christmas or Boxing Day, with working life carrying on as usual, the New Year's Day is a holiday.
-
New Years Eve is celebrated just as much as in the UK. Many people book packages to hotels which include dinner, a night's stay and a handful of acts to keep you entertained (or not entertained...as in one expat's experience in Sousse this year!) Expats living in Hammamet, have told me they often visit each other's houses for a meal and a lively get together (looking forward to my invite next year!!!)
-
Valentines Day and Mothers Day
-
The Muslim festival of Eid ul Adha, which is the same date, the world over.
-
School holidays are similar with time off over Christmas and two weeks normally coinciding with Easter time in the UK
For something completely different, the town of Nabeul had a festival of sugar dolls from 18-20 January this year. Thanks Kate for letting me know that this originally began as a Jewish festival, from the large community that lived out here at one time. The Jewish community mostly lives on the Island of Djerba now, but the tradition still lives on. Children are able to purchase a statue or doll made entirely out of sugar from the many stalls lining the streets. A big tradition in Nabeul, taking place for as long as I can remember, I haven't quite worked out yet whether this can replace Cadbury's Cream Eggs, which would have been hitting the UK shops for some time now!
