Chinese New Year 2012
I felt like it was my birthday and no one even cared. I don't mean to be dramatic but I just REALLY wanted to celebrate Chinese New Year...and no one was really into it. I knew I wouldn't be able to celebrate it proper since:
1. I don't have a Chinese family to celebrate with;
2. I can't cook all the good new year's foods; and
3. I don't even know all the traditions associated with CNY.
But still! Although, I think I had enough excitement in me for everyone!
Last night, I made a nian gao dish - it didnt turn out really well but I'm still experimenting. I also ate some tangyuan...black sesame! Today, I woke up excited and eager to greet my Chinese friends and wish them all a "xin nian kuai le" (新年快乐）.
I even wore my ridiculous bright red sweater that I got in China that has a picture of a giant bunny that says "HAPPY" on it.
After a full day at school, I sat in the bubble tea shop waiting for my taro and tapioca drink to arrive and I couldn't help but think of the book 'The Joy Luck Club'. Mostly how the American (Chinese) daughters just never understood their Chinese mothers' culture and the great cultural divide between generations. I thought "do these Chinese people even care?" I can understand that for the most part, their parents/grandparents gave up a lot to immigrate to Canada - to become Canadian. I guess we've swapped places...except I'm still in Canada. I hope one day, I will be in China learning more about the Chinese culture, eating like a Chinese person (minus the spitting), speaking Chinese, and enjoying Chinese holidays and traditions. And I'm sure they will look at me and wonder "this waiguo (foreigner) must not even care about her motherland...look at how Chinese she is!" (Actually - this would be a huge compliment! When my Chinese classmate told me that I was more Chinese than he was - it made my day!) I doubt this would happen...but let me dream!
I don't think I've gone crazy. Maybe the jury is still out on this one. I know I'm Canadian, white, small-town girl. I don't deny it. I always will be. And I love it. I also love China and look forward to knowing more of the language, the culture, and knowing how to cook better Chinese dishes! But beyond all of that, I look forward to being part of a community in China and serving Christ with my Chinese brothers and sisters.
Who knows where I'll be next year for CNY, but maybe a Chinese family will adopt me into their family to celebrate...maybe even for the entire 15 days!
As I continue eating tangyuan, I wish you all a happy new year! 新年快乐！
1. I don't have a Chinese family to celebrate with;
2. I can't cook all the good new year's foods; and
3. I don't even know all the traditions associated with CNY.
But still! Although, I think I had enough excitement in me for everyone!
Last night, I made a nian gao dish - it didnt turn out really well but I'm still experimenting. I also ate some tangyuan...black sesame! Today, I woke up excited and eager to greet my Chinese friends and wish them all a "xin nian kuai le" (新年快乐）.
I even wore my ridiculous bright red sweater that I got in China that has a picture of a giant bunny that says "HAPPY" on it.
After a full day at school, I sat in the bubble tea shop waiting for my taro and tapioca drink to arrive and I couldn't help but think of the book 'The Joy Luck Club'. Mostly how the American (Chinese) daughters just never understood their Chinese mothers' culture and the great cultural divide between generations. I thought "do these Chinese people even care?" I can understand that for the most part, their parents/grandparents gave up a lot to immigrate to Canada - to become Canadian. I guess we've swapped places...except I'm still in Canada. I hope one day, I will be in China learning more about the Chinese culture, eating like a Chinese person (minus the spitting), speaking Chinese, and enjoying Chinese holidays and traditions. And I'm sure they will look at me and wonder "this waiguo (foreigner) must not even care about her motherland...look at how Chinese she is!" (Actually - this would be a huge compliment! When my Chinese classmate told me that I was more Chinese than he was - it made my day!) I doubt this would happen...but let me dream!
I don't think I've gone crazy. Maybe the jury is still out on this one. I know I'm Canadian, white, small-town girl. I don't deny it. I always will be. And I love it. I also love China and look forward to knowing more of the language, the culture, and knowing how to cook better Chinese dishes! But beyond all of that, I look forward to being part of a community in China and serving Christ with my Chinese brothers and sisters.
Who knows where I'll be next year for CNY, but maybe a Chinese family will adopt me into their family to celebrate...maybe even for the entire 15 days!
As I continue eating tangyuan, I wish you all a happy new year! 新年快乐！
Comments
I think it's not as big of a deal for students in Waterloo cause they're not around family, and it's often seniors that make a big deal about doing family celebrations around CNY. But I'd think that at least the more fobby Chinese would do at least SOMEthing! Strange.
Am encouraged by your love and pursuit of understanding and loving my(another) culture (minus the spitting and prob many other things that are strange/frustrating haha).