Though January and February seem distant now, a time of blissful blue skies and cool breezes without Hong Kong’s incessant humidity, they were good times. Chinese New Year was a whirlwind week- it was remarkable how changed, how calm and peaceful Hong Kong was for that one week. I was able to celebrate the holiday “authentically,” by visiting the homes of two of my students. In my first celebration of the New Year, I went to Kenny’s grandmother’s house. Kenny is one of the more outgoing students on campus; he plays rugby and he worked for Gucci before starting university, owing to his fashionably slim physique. He also enjoys laughing at frozen vegetable and boiled fish dinners- half-hearted attempts at cooking. I went with two of the French exchange students on campus with whom I practice my French, to his grandmother’s flat in Sha tin, another city in the New Territories.
His grandmother was a charming lady who continued trying to feed us long after we were full; she also enjoys gambling. In one game which she encouraged us to try, you place bets on which side of the dice a roll will land on. The dice is covered with pictures of different animals, so you put money on the dye landing on the fish or the cow and then if luck is with you, see your bet doubled. Kenny laughingly conveyed to us that all of the children liked when Kenny’s grandmother was the banker; even when they lost she would give them money!
Visiting Kenny’s grandmother was also special because I received “red pocket money,” which according to Chinese tradition; older married people give to young, single ones. (In theory you can receive red pocket money indefinitely!) Since I had been hearing my Chinese co-workers and friends bragging about the amount of money they would “take in” through their red packets, it was quite satisfying to be able to tell them that I had received one!
In addition to the welcome insight into Cantonese culture that dining with Kenny’s family provided; it was also a chance to eat some delicious food. There was fish-served whole on a platter (eyes and all!), sweet and sour pork much enjoyed by us foreigners, as well as a desert consisting of peanut butter filled dumplings in a pumpkin based sauce.
In my second family visit during the Chinese New Year Festival Week, I went to Wing Wing’s house. Wing Wing has been a steady friend to me throughout my time in Hong Kong, first patiently teaching me Cantonese, and then continuing to meet with me for dinner once a week even after my burning desire to learn Cantonese had been extinguished. At Wing Wing’s home we again were stuffed with delicious food; this time dumplings filled with red bean paste, a dish close to barbecued pork, and spaghetti! Being abroad has made me appreciate the times I spend with families. You don’t realize how special those long Sunday afternoons spent with family are until you no longer have them. So Wing Wing’s was especially nice because I was there with the other ETAs (my Hong Kong family,) while spending time with her Mom, sister and Father. We played badminton together outside her house and created eerily similar versions of ourselves in video characters. Though here the similarities with American culture end; since in America you would play badminton in the back yard while in Hong Kong we played in the courtyard in front of a temple!
While I enjoyed some quality time with friends’ families during the week of Chinese New Year Celebrations, I also enjoyed some of the city wide celebrations. The Chinese New Year Day parade was a spectacle consisting of dancers from South Africa, Japan, even the Washington Red Skin Cheerleaders. Watching Hong Kong people watch the Red Skin Cheerleaders was incredible; they did not seem sure whether it was appropriate to stare at the gyrating, Amazonian like figures walking through the cold in miniscule skirt and top. Ultimately they decided that video taking and crazed photo snapping were the best way to commemorate this glorious display of American culture. All I could think watching the Washington Red Skin Cheerleaders, was: they are soo
“Mei Gwuk!" In English, they are soo American!
