Saturday, January 24, 2009
- Happy Chinese New Year -
My mommy was a very happy woman today, because she didnt have to go to the wet market alone at 430am in the morning. She was armed with her small purse loaded with cash; i was there with the ipod and story book. I always told her she was crazy; why go to the butcher so early in the day?
And then it happened. There were already several cuts of meat that were completely sold out by 5am. Im beginning to think its safer to just rear a real pig to prepare for future Chinese New Year.
As i sat in the pavillion (to watch over all the groceries my mom bought) and read my book, i took a total of 5 glances at my surroundings when resting my eyes. The first was evident as a self reflection that i was still feeling crazy about being there in the first place. The second was seeing women who made a deal with each other by taking turns to rush off from the pavillion to buy their groceries while the other watched over their achievements with joy. The third glance saw a mother scolding her son for walking so slowly, evidently already angry about the fact that she was already facing the impending doom of not being able to mark off even half of her grocery list. The fourth saw the wet market completely crowded by the time it was 7am, and some butchers actually starting to pack up. The last glance was the best, with momma coming back from her fifth trip to announce to the kingdom that she was victorious and ready to go home.
My brothers were smarter than me though. They got into the festive spirit by baking the stuff they liked to eat. The elder one took on pineapple tarts, while the younger one baked cookies (which i must admit tastes like those from famous amos). Seeing that no one in hell eats western food during chinese new year, i had no excuse but to help my mother in the kitchen for another 3 hours peeling and chopping her ingredients.
This new year's eve will be spent:
1) keeping awake as the only chinese tradition i very willingly follow
2) calling gracie as the only tradition i keep with my primary school friend
3) Doing my 4000 word report that i have not started as yet (the ever constant tradition and pain for business students)
Happy New Year All :)
Written fashion may not be history @4:42 PM
