Xsampa

[Elena1012]

(Cat) Cafes, Operas, Tea and Strawberries remain defining aspects or rising trends in Xsampa; A look into Xsampan Culture.

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September 15th, 5706
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If you ask any foreigner, what are the top three words they think of when hearing the word, "Xsampa", they'll usually think of socialism, the Bargas Chenpo, and ethically made goods. This isn't wrong by any means, but if you were to tell a Xsampan that this was all their culture amounted to, you'd get a frown at best and a colourful amount of upset words at worst. But like any country, culture is not monolithic and while Xsampa isn't a melting pot of cultures, it certainly holds defining aspects worth going over. Especially for a society that is undoubtedly, collectivist. 

It is however, a stretch to say that Xsampan culture is purely Xsampan. While it's certainly not a melting pot of cosmopolitanism compared to other cultures, there is one other prominent cultural influence in Xsampa; Canrillaise. As the country used to be the Imperial Dominion of Vasser, under Lourennais control, it's no secret that Canrillaise influence is widespread in Northern Xsampa, and the wider cultural sphere. Xsampans are taught both Xsampan, obviously, and also Canrillaise, and the Karoboro Canton, the northern most Canton in Xsampa is home to Canrillaise-Xsampan communities, most notably the city of Tsélame-Sur-Yol. So, it is no surprise that Canrillaise influence does seep into Xsampan culture, and rather than replacing it or being snubbed out, it's seen a mixture.

This is where three predominant cultural trends in Xsampa come into play. Cat cafes, tea and Opera's. Starting off with Cat Cafes and the wider Cafe Culture of Xsampa, it's no secret that Xsampans simply love cats. And for a collectivist society, where public engagement is expected, cafes quickly have seen growth over the past century as a space for socialization, community and seeing cats. But why cats? Because Xsampans simply love cats, and combining the aspect of cafes and cats is an idea that Xsampans have cherished for a very long time. And this leads us to point two, tea. Tea is a relatively new trend, one that has been rising rapidly in Xsampa, enough for the government to feel the need to invest into domestic tea production. But why? Why are Xsampans turning away from coffee in favour of tea? We can again, point towards Canrillaise influence, and also, a wider societal shift. 

While material conditions have been adequate for Xsampa for a considerable while, at least in terms of ensuring poverty is low, recent efforts, both from the government and from public campaigns have seen a focus on putting more money into the pockets of Xsampans, and what do people do when they have more money then they need? They stop surviving, and start living. They look to leisure. This is where tea comes in. Being a foreign product first, it was more expensive on account of the rigorous requirements for goods to enter Xsampa, which meant it wasn't available to many Xsampans. But with Xsampans having more purchasing power, they've drifted towards tea, something which was largely only available to upper class Xsampans, and have rejected coffee in favour of slowing down on life, enjoying the moment and socializing.

And this, also leads us to point 3, Operas. Which follows the same thought process. In the 5690s, Operas began to rise rapidly in Xsampa, gaining major popularity, due to their communal nature, emotional storytelling (or at least their excessive usage of emotion), and the fact that they can carry history, whether fiction or not. With Xsampans having the money, they look to leisure beyond public parks and traditional forms of entertainment, and this leads them to Opera's. Throw in the Canrillaise influence of art belonging in public life, the value of serious emotion being within art, and it's no surprise that Xsampans flock to Opera's.

But, this isnt to say that this entirely defined Xsampan culture. No, not at all. For the biggest influencer, of course, is socialism. Comrades is a common greeting, flaunting wealth is frowned upon heavily, the needs of the collective over the individual (disputably, this may be attributed to collectivism instead of socialism), and the ideals of the Revolution. Uninterrupted socialism for 300 years will no doubt influence culture, just as it has influenced Xsampan culture. 

But, if Xsampan culture has to be defined in a short term, it would best he described as this. A society where emotion is valued as art, where slowing down is encouraged, and where the needs of all are prioritized. Whether it be Xsampans craving tea or starting online turf wars over strawberries being superior, whether it be Opera's uniting Xsampans or cafes bringing Xsampans together, Xsampan culture remains most certainly unique, just as any culture is. And this isn't even accounting for traditional Xsampan culture, which is an entirely different aspect, equally worthy of its own article. 
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In Other News; 

Xsampans for Openness petition the government for immigration reform; Is immigration reform tangibly possibly?

One Xsampan asks, "what is the point of living"? Another says, "To pet cats".

People's Commissar of Agricultural Management confirms that Tea Production is going well; First patch of domestic, Xsampan made tea to be expected later this year.
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Today's Quote of The Day; "Yet I am here, and here I shall remain to behold the world in all it's beauty"
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Glory to the Xsampan Revolution! Glory to the Xsampan Proletariat!

The People's Committee for Information is a worker owned, news source in Xsampa, dedicated to spreading the words of the revolution. Ensuring that Xsampans hear news, both foreign and domestic from a strongly socialist lens, the PCI ensures a strong, stable, socialist society for Xsampa.

གྲལ་རིམ་ལ་གཟི་བརྗིད་ཤོག

Gloire à la Révolution ! Gloire au prolétariat!