Sad to say, Siaopo is feeling very useless.
This is reality. Is too late for anything. It's completely impossible for Siaopo to learn Chinese now.
Young and lovely girl, Lucy's GCSE core subject requires her to craft a scrapbook theme "Chinese New Year " together with 10 hours exam.
Siaopo is very impressed with her boundless enthusiasm over cross-cultural learning.
Siaopo literally rummage through wardrobes, drawers, closets to see if there's anything that she can find symbolising Chinese New Year Celebration to help Lucy.
It came as a bit of surprise to Siaopo that she actually found fairly good amount of Chinese New Year stuffs - ornaments, Red Packets, Chinese New year Cards and etc.
Does every Chinese know the origin and history of Chinese New Year ?
At least, not for Siaopo though.
The only thing Siaopo is familiar with ; greeting everyone with "Gong Xi Gong Xi" on Chinese New Year Day and it’s time for another big buffet at the Tua Pek Kong temple.
Origin and history, no issue for Siaopo - as in anyone can Google anything nowadays and become expert.
The hardest part, however, was not being able to read the Chinese Character. It’s been terribly disappointing.
Siaopo looked at them and her jaw drops. Siaopo can't even read any words apart from the infamous one Chinese Character 福, and that's it. ( includes 福 which has been turned up-side down).
Lucky her, she has a few wonderful friends all over who reads perfect Chinese and did help her to translate them all. It's been a significant relief for her...phew !
Thank you Alice, Annie, SM, Amy, Grace and many more. Special thanks to SM for the great photos. Your help are greatly appreciated.
It has been a great joy with experience learning with Lucy, though painful at first trying to figure out the Chinese characters.
All Siaopo learnt back in school about Chinese New year makes her realize that it's all abstract knowledge, really. She learnt and accepted everything she's told without actually looking for evidence and symbolism of the festival.
Example, pineapple appear as auspicious fruit for Chinese during Chinese New Year. But why?
Its because it's Chinese name 黃梨 literally means prosperity and luck. WANG LI literally means luck has arrived.
Siaopo couldn't stop laughing when Lucy commented " Chinese probably take money far too seriously, everything is about prosperity and Wealth ".
Siaopo's response " Yes, Money is literally our blood. No Money No Talk "....
Here’s the scene: Chinese ornaments, red packets with 恭喜發財 , 年年有鱼 yada yada yada on item 1, 2,3 and...
0 comments:
Post a Comment