J+186 The end of spring festival ~ lantern festival (元宵节)

 

Yesterday was the lantern festival.

The weather was really bad so my family just stayed at home, as if it was a normal day. I was about to go for a lazy evening home when I suddenly changed my mind. It would have been too foolish. This is a one chance occasion. I went to Confucius temple, even though the WHOLE of Nanjing was there... Roads closed, 2 subway stations closed... All around it. I figured out running was the best way to get there!

I managed to join my friend Nicky and her mother, by some miracle !

We took a boat trip together, and enjoyed all the light shows.

 

 

 

The Lantern Festival, which occurs on the 15-th day of the First Month of the Chinese Year, marks the end of the New Year's Holiday.

Yuanxiao is the special food for the Lantern Festival. It is believed that Yuanxiao is named after a palace maid, Yuanxiao, of Emperor Wu Di of the Han Dynasty.

Yuanxiao is a kind of sweet dumpling, which is made with sticky rice flour filled with sweet stuffing. And the Festival is named after the famous dumpling.

It is very easy to cook - simply dump them in a pot of boiling water for a few minutes - and eaten as a desert.

Soooooooo good!

These are very sweet... But I particularly enjoy them at breakfast!

 

J+184 I TURNED 18.

On the 21st, I turned 18.
I had a birthday celebration diner with my best friends and their parents, and went out with my American friend late evening after that.
I celebrated it with my host family on the 22nd, at the restaurant. We had a diner all together, and my father and I symbolically drank white whine. (Their white whine is 45%... Like white spirit)
In china, when we "cheers" ,the youngest persons glass must remain under the older ones. This is tradition.

During that diner, my eyes explored the table, trying to figure out what the different dishes where. I asked about a plate of meat... They kept strangely silent, except my father who said "try try try" and handed me a piece. I started eating it, then I was informed it was dog.
Fair enough...
If you are wondering, it has a good taste, and pretty tender meat.
My sister almost wanted to cry... She refused to have some.. (Her father told her she wasn't Chinese but Japanese..)

As I ate it, the conversation continued.. When suddenly , the woman sitting next to me came out with "Oh, by the way, this is my dog"

"""""""""""""""""
I swear... I didn't know what to do.
Still chewing "her dog", I asked her :"aren't you sad? Was this your pet?"
She answered she brought it here and killed it, so we could have it for dinner.
I was speechless, wanted to burst in laughter because of the awkwardness, and wanted to cry at the same time.

J+180 SNOW IN NANJING

Today was such an amazing day.
Firstly because my Chinese sister had decided to spend the day with me, to celebrate my birthday.
Secondly because I got woken up by a phone call.. Saying "open your window and take a look!" ---- THICK WHITE SNOW. Everywhere.
This is so rare for Nanjing.
Then.... I prayed I had enough time with my sister, after school... About 30 seconds after I made that wish, my iPhone lit up> a message, saying "no school today & tomorrow"
The next minute I "Chinese twitted this", and got treated like Santa Claus!

I got the sunglasses out... The brightness was hurting my eyes!
My sister took me for the biggest hot pot meal I have ever had...

J+172 Countryside trip

 We took a trip to the countryside to go and see our relatives : grand parents, uncles, aunts...
I have been to this place about 3 times before. The weather was great, very cold but sunny!

I had to keep my hood on for some time ... In order to avoid this:

" 啊哟! 老外! 老外 ! "
"老外! 她干嘛？！过年为什么不回家？

(People who have never seen a foreigner before, thinking I'm an alien, and calling up all their family and friends to come and check it out for themselves!)~ most of them are wondering what on earth I was doing there... observing their vegetable patches... " 

 

After dinner, we all lit fireworks in the night!

J+171 The most amazing experience : Chinese New Year

Today, was an incredible day!

Chinese New Year's Day!

My parents had warned me this would be the most special day I spend in China. Gosh they were right.

They told me they wanted me to be at the restaurant, at 5pm to help out; I gladly accepted!

I had made plans with a friend, to go hiking for 2 hours in the morning, climb a mountain. We both woke up at 7am; phoned each other... 冷死了！！ TOO COLD! 不可能！impossible !  We gave up that ambitious plan... And snuggled under our 被子 (quilt). My family woke up at about 9am. My father and I hung up the red posters outside the door, tradition I have already mentioned.

 

We slowly made our way to the restaurant where we had a late breakfast .. 11am.

Nanjing was just like a gost town.. ALL the shops closed; nobody in the streets!

 

Calm... Too calm... Emptiness ..

My sister invited me for coffee in the afternoon.

 

We then started the service, as waitresses (服务员).

We both opened the door for each customer , greeting them "欢迎光临! 新年快乐!" (Welcome! Happy new year!)

Most of them replied with "啊呀! 老外在干嘛？不回家吗？！＂

Oh my God! What is "the foreigner" up to?! How come she doesn't celebrate in her hometown?"

 

Yes most Chinese people believe everybody celebrates new year in February.

My sister and I worked for about 3 hours, helping old and disabled people up the steps, (this is the only day people really ought to gather their ENTIRE family, including handicapped old grandparents.

My father lit some firecrackers each time a new customer came. There were about 150 people having their dinner at our restaurant.

 

 

Customers started leaving, that's when our diner began.

All the 汤 family and the restaurant staff gathered, women at one table, men at another . I asked the reason; > men 喝酒 （drink alcohol and smoke) ; women don't.

My father gave a speech, wishing good income next year, and professional success to everybody.

My father and mother gave each member of staff their "red pocket", with a different amount of cash inside depending on how well they have worked in 2012. I helped my parents fill in the pockets yesterday, the amounts go from 100¥ to 4000¥

Most Chinese people spend the new year evening watching the official ceremony, with country singers, and shows. But we went home, and waited for the fireworks!

At 12:00 , the sky turned into fire! Sizzling EVERYWHERE ! This lasted an hour at least!

 

It's not easy to describe what it feels like .. To feel CHINA SHAKING!

I am speechless.

2:30 am, in my bedroom... The fireworks are still blowing!

J+166 Chinese New Year 过年

Chinese follow the lunar calendar. The most important event in the year is the spring festival: celebration starts on the New Year's day. The day is celebrated on the first day of the first month of the Chinese calendar, the day of the second new moon following the day of the winter solstice. The festivities end with the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of that month. ... I don't know how clear that is to you; I admit it took me a while to understand!

The festival's origin goes back thousands of years ago. There are many legends and traditions linked to it. The most famous legend is the "Nian monster" 年兽 legend. It is said, people used to believe the beast would devour people on New Year's Eve. To scare the monster away, people pasted red coloured couplets, on their front doors, and walls, lit red torches and burst loud firecrackers throughout the night.

 

 

New Year's Eve customary family reunion dinners are held where family members from near and far try to join in the dinner celebrations. Try and imagine the MESS in train stations, airports.... Picture the whole European Union population migrating at the same time..

On the New Year day gifts are exchanged among the family. The fifteenth day marks the Lantern Festival where people carry red lanterns and participate in the lantern parade. I am quite lucky to be in Nanjing, we have one of the most beautiful places for the lantern parade I was told: our Confucius temple (my favourite place in Nanjing)

I will take many photos and videos.

On the New Year's Day, I have offered my help at my fathers restaurant because they really really could use a hand. He happily accepted it! So I shall celebrate with my sister, parents, brother and the staff. (My aunt is going back to her countryside hometown in 2 days) .

We all have bought new clothes. It is a tradition here. My Chinese mother likes my dress and heels very much! I shall wear the new outfit on New Year's Day.

J+165 My (Chinese) mother's birthday

Today was my mother's 45th birthday.
I was told this at 9pm.. After having had breakfast with her this morning.
Yes I felt slightly uncomfortable ! My sister said birthdays don't mean a great deal in their family.
I ran out to buy a cake, we took it to the restaurant.
My mother said "who's birthday is it?"
She... She didn't know today was HER BIRTHDAY!
It was a wonderful surprise, and we spent a great family moment.
When it comes to the cake... It looks better than it tastes if you are wondering !!