Friday, February 11, 2005
Just like the usual Cny, except that mom keeps saying I look like the red-haired Ah seng selling chicken rice in the hawker center.
Needless to elaborate any more, it's been hectic these coupla days. With a record seven households in two days (and many more hong baos exchanged on behalf of the many, many more households linked to the visited households), I'm glad to say we've completed lunar new year visiting for the year of the rooster. Sister asks, what's the use of spring cleaning up our apartment to a twinkly shine when we get only one family visit so far.
Unlike most other families, mine gets few visitors during this festive season because we used to spend the new year at grandma's in malaysia. So other relatives take for granted that we aren't around, even now. Back to her query, I would agree very much so but of course mom is the sort who prefers her home to be squeaky clean All Year Round if not for everyone's busy schedule. Well.
Relative: "Finished school?"
Me: "Graduating this may."
Relative: (Looks over to parents) "You're going to have it good soon."
Parents: [Insert typical chinese response]
As usual, we've done our obligatory mingling and have answered the same old questions. This year singlehood feels more blatant than ever when most of my (younger) teenage relations have gotten attached and such are the topics that get to be the subject of fervent discussions among mothers. Nothing is expressly mentioned actually but I guess I rather be caught in a couples-filled street on valentine's day than the silent jeer. Ack!
And I seriously wonder how my generation will be able to carry on the annual tradition in the future especially when my sister and I spend more time watching numerous tv programs in the comfort of relatives' living rooms rather than engaging in small talk. We do get comfy with some of our relatives but others are merely a little more than strangers with an assumed ancestral link. A pity in fact, when my extended family is considered much smaller than the average singaporean's.
Needless to elaborate any more, it's been hectic these coupla days. With a record seven households in two days (and many more hong baos exchanged on behalf of the many, many more households linked to the visited households), I'm glad to say we've completed lunar new year visiting for the year of the rooster. Sister asks, what's the use of spring cleaning up our apartment to a twinkly shine when we get only one family visit so far.
Unlike most other families, mine gets few visitors during this festive season because we used to spend the new year at grandma's in malaysia. So other relatives take for granted that we aren't around, even now. Back to her query, I would agree very much so but of course mom is the sort who prefers her home to be squeaky clean All Year Round if not for everyone's busy schedule. Well.
Relative: "Finished school?"
Me: "Graduating this may."
Relative: (Looks over to parents) "You're going to have it good soon."
Parents: [Insert typical chinese response]
As usual, we've done our obligatory mingling and have answered the same old questions. This year singlehood feels more blatant than ever when most of my (younger) teenage relations have gotten attached and such are the topics that get to be the subject of fervent discussions among mothers. Nothing is expressly mentioned actually but I guess I rather be caught in a couples-filled street on valentine's day than the silent jeer. Ack!
And I seriously wonder how my generation will be able to carry on the annual tradition in the future especially when my sister and I spend more time watching numerous tv programs in the comfort of relatives' living rooms rather than engaging in small talk. We do get comfy with some of our relatives but others are merely a little more than strangers with an assumed ancestral link. A pity in fact, when my extended family is considered much smaller than the average singaporean's.
