GONG XI FA CAI!!!
Happy Chinese New Year! May the year of the Dog be one that brings good health, wealth, joy and happiness to you wherever you are and whatever you do!
Yes, it is the time of the year again which I miss the celebration at home most. Since coming to Japan, CNY is like any other day: I have my classes, still need to be at my part-time jobs, etc. It is not a big deal at all. Every year I tell myself that I should make my way to Yokohama’s Chinatown to immerse in any possible festive mood… but, normally, I just put on my Chinese top and have dinner with my Japanese parents and big brother Rajiv… that’s all.
Well, it is always good to recall the good old days just for the festive mood. I remember apart from the pre-CNY cleaning that lasts until the very night of CNY eve, a CNY movie is a must just before the reunion dinner at home with mom (well, it is our excuse to get out of the house as she busy herself with the preparations… laughs…). We normally do our CNY shopping in stocking up New Year goodies and our new clothes weeks before or during the shopping carnival. Reunion dinner also happens a few times due to my family’s special status.
The things we do during this festive season is eat and eat some more! From the scrumptious reunion dinners, the first day of the New Year is often started with mom blasting festive tunes on the music system. Then, she will be off to my grandparents place for custom rites before bringing all the immediate relatives over for a vegetarian meal prepared specially by my grandma (she only cooks once a year and this is it). Then it will be snacks all the way as we collect our "red packets." We will make trips to visit relatives of both my mom and dad’s family to Ipoh or Seremban. All is these fun is added with my personal CNY outings with my guy friends for visitation and movies. For the next 15 days, we will just be enjoying what the festive season brings by having guests over, visitations to other homes, absorbing what the malls give us, and the TV receives a lot of attention too.
My favorite and must eat "stuff" during this time of the year (which I am missing so much) are dad’s, mom’s, grandma’s cooking, the "yee-sang" at the restaurants, my favorite cookies, gummy sweets, sugared vegetables, etc. Aww… I want to be home for this season of celebration too!
So, what will I be doing this weekend? As the entire Chinese community gather at their homes for reunion dinner tonight (Saturday, January 28, 2006), I will be heading down to Tokyo, to church to help out with the Jr. High School "lock-in" as chaperone for a night of very little or close to no sleep, games, fellowship and discussions. I most probably will be wearing the same ol’ clothes for tomorrow, attending service before heading back to my place to catch up on my sleep and homework. Sad, eh? But all of these will be taken with the festive mood in my heart.
恭贺新喜, 龙马精神, 万事顺利, 年年有余, 快乐安康, 恭喜发财!!!
