Around this time of year, Americans are accustomed to encountering Santa Clause in their nearby vicinity. He says "Ho Ho Ho! Merry Christmas," smiles, waves, spreads good cheer, etc.
So - unlike my colleagues - I was not particularly suprised to see Santa Clause in my office this morning. I was, however, astonished by his negative message. He told us he was promoting the Christmas lunch which the contract catering company that runs our cafeteria is putting on next week. "The tickets for the lunch aren't selling very well. So I'm here to tell you to buy them or you won't be getting a Christmas lunch at all next year!" he said.
He gave us each one tiny piece of very cheap-tasting chocolate and a flier to promote the lunch, then moved on with his Grinch-like message.
I went to the lunch last year. It was very expensive, and the food was terrible. Seeing Santa Clause does appeal to my American roots, but when it comes to spending money on something like this, I'm all Dutch.
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"She stopped, she looked at her brother. 'Isn't life,' she stammered, 'isn't life-.' But what life was she couldn't explain." Katherine Mansfield, The Garden Party
