User Comments - hlewis
hlewis
Posted on: Boxing Day
December 26, 2011, 11:03 PMIn Melbourne, Australia, in my lifetime at least (26 years), Boxing Day has gone from a day where only crazy people go shopping into a day where about 30-40% of people will venture out to have a look at what's on sale. Growing up, we used to treat Boxing Day as another family day, but increasingly over the years we've become more relaxed about it.
I certainly never knew it had benevolent connotations or involved giving to the poor in Australia. I find that very interesting, and slightly sad that it's degenerated so far.
However, I would agree that it's not the same as Black Friday. I saw that on TV and it looked INSANE. The majority of Aussies still steer clear of shops on Boxing Day, and head out in early January to grab the leftovers, which are often cheaper still. Conversely to what appears to be the case in the UK, sales here include EVERYTHING - fashion, multimedia, homewares, you name it - so many more people are interested.
And, yes, I did head out yesterday to buy some boring items I needed like towels and sheets.
Posted on: A Bad Temper
October 05, 2011, 01:04 PM哦...thanks guys for clearing that up!
Posted on: A Bad Temper
October 03, 2011, 09:54 AM@ lishuai1981 - that would be cool...alas, 我是女人。。。如果我哥哥还是弟弟有儿子，我要问他们用这个名字!
Posted on: A Bad Temper
October 03, 2011, 09:49 AMCan I ask why 咱们 is used instead of 我们？ I haven't come across this before.
Posted on: A Bad Temper
September 27, 2011, 12:16 AMWould 你结婚了mean you've gotten married recently, and "changed states" from being single to being married, whereas 你结过婚 means you've been married before, but might not be now? Like when you say "我去过北京" meaning "I've been to Beijing (but I'm not necessarily still there)"?
Posted on: One-Way Street Scuffle
May 09, 2011, 10:27 AMI'd like to learn this too. Lots of challenging vocabulary. I'll also have a look at the course structure to see which lessons from that I'd like to learn. Thanks :)
Posted on: What does she look like?
May 09, 2011, 10:25 AMHi :) I'd like to learn this lesson too.
Posted on: City Districts in Shanghai
May 09, 2011, 10:25 AMHi Joyce, I'd like to learn this lesson.
Posted on: Boxing Day
December 26, 2011, 11:17 PMI wouldn't say Aussies don't want to be identified as requiring assistance. Most of our goodwill activities occur before Christmas now. There are lots of charity appeals in the month leading up to it, and actually, many workplaces nowadays have charities they fundraise for or donate goods to every year.
Even Carols by Candlelight, the traditional televised carols concert that occurs on Christmas Eve in Melbourne, is a fundraiser for the Vision Australia (supporting the blind).
So perhaps the sentiment of Boxing Day remains, if the time when this activity occurs has shifted.