Cindy and I met again at Fruitealicious. I was really eager to meet with her
because it was Mardi Gras and the week of the Chinese New Year. When I think of the Chinese New Year, I
think of the dancing dragon and the fact that each year is designated by one of
twelve animals. I was excited for
her to share the tradition of the Chinese New Year with me and I to share the
tradition of Mardi Gras with her.
When she arrived, she immediately started talking about her
day of class with the IEP. She
told me that they had learned about Mardi Gras and ate King’s Cake…and didn’t
get the baby! I was a little
bummed that she had already learned of one the biggest southern
celebrations. On the other hand, I
learned more than I ever could have imagined about Chinese New Year.
One of the most interesting things I learned was how the
Chinese New Year has been influenced by the many dynasties over the years. Kids receive red pockets with money
from their parents and grandparents, spend Chinese New Year’s Eve and Chinese
New Year with their family, and eat traditional food. The celebration sounded a lot like my Christmas. Through the IEP they were going to have
a celebration over the weekend that she invited me to, but, unfortunately, I
had a prior commitment and couldn’t attend.
One of the things that I wondered about throughout our
conversation is her religion. Maybe
it’s the way I was raised, but asking someone about his/her religion can be a
bit taboo if you don’t know how he/she will react. I know that Chinese New Year is based on the phases of the
moon but didn’t know if it had any religious background. She also told me that her mom knows a lot
of astrology and horoscopes.
Thinking about this, I know that Cindy wants to share her way of life
with me and would be more than willing to talk about her religion, but a part
of me feels that it may be intrusive, as many people are private about their
faith.
On another note, throughout our discussion, she was telling
me about how the animals that are designated for each year represent something,
such as: fortune, wisdom, loyalty, and so forth. She proceeded to show me a necklace given to her by her mom
that meant safety and a coral bracelet given to her by her dad that meant
something else. I began thinking
about the English language and American traditions, and I feel like we don’t
focus on what certain animals and items represent. Yes, many Americans read and follow their horoscopes, but I
don’t feel that my parents would give me a piece of jewelry because the
material was supposed to mean something specific and apply to my life.
Talking with Cindy always makes me reflect on my life and
the traditions that I grew up with.
Her traditions are nationalistic and pervasive throughout those in her
life. Sometimes I feel that my
traditions are unsubstantial considering that China has been around for over
three thousand years and America had only been around 300 years. It’s awe-inspiring to me to see Cindy’s
joy for her traditions and her family, but it’s also heartbreaking to see that
this is her first time experiencing these traditions away from her family and
away from her country.
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