I'm quite excited to start this blog. Its been a goal of mine for quite sometime. It being the start of the Lunar New Year - it seems like an appropriate time to begin.
This week, the Burkes have celebrated Lunar New Year. We had friends over on the eve of the New Year. Although we had western food, the ingredients had special meaning for the New Year. For the Chinese, there are special foods that should be eaten during the New Year in order to ensure prosperity and happiness throughout the upcoming year. We had lasagna (noodles) for long life, roasted chicken to symbolize a favorable start and finish as well as family-togetherness, oranges for prosperity. Of course, there are so many other auspicious foods eaten during the new year; this was only symbolic.
We paid homage to history and tradition by going to YuYuan Gardens to enjoy the holiday with the throngs of Shanghai humanity, laughing, eating and frolicing. It was a great day ending with full bellies after wonderful long hand-pulled noodles, savory and juicy jiaozhi (dumplings), perfectly roasted unlevened bread, delicious fresh fruit and a new addition - dense peanut bars, sort of like Butterfingers without the chocolate.
Lunar New Year would not be complete without a trip to Kunshan to share a meal with our 'family' in the city where we started our China advenure. Madi, Cati, Bob and I ate until our hearts' content with people we've known for almost 12 years. We had fun talking about old times and exploring the future and what it holds for us in the Year of the Ox.
Yesterday, Madi and Cati went to a friend's house to have some maths tutoring. It was very successful for them as well as me because I got to spend some time with my friends, Jean and Tina. Lunar New Year is a great time to catch up with friends you don't get to see every day!
Speaking of old friends, Cati has Pheobe over. They've been friends here in Shanghai since they've been 3 years old. Pheobe got to our home around 3pm and they haven't been seen since - they've been up in Cati's room giggling.
The Lunar New Year isn't over yet! I can't wait to see what tomorrow brings.
