Chinese New Years 2007

Traditions. Customs. Mysteries. Legends. Songs. Children Stories. Games. Moral. Understanding. Point of view. Ethnic. Respect.......Our worlds can be so different, coming from two different cultures.

Its part of Irene's and my life to learn about the other. Its part of our life to teach, show and introduce the other into the above mentioned. This time it was Chinese New Year. Something far more complicated than our New Years and honestly I have not fully understood. So I think i will have to go back next year and try again. This time Irene won't be there, since she will still study in Germany...but this time I will beat big uncle in Manjhong.

Well let me sum up what happened, letting the deeper meaning for next time:

The whole trip started weird, since I missed my flight in Medan. I could sleep over at a friends place and catch the flight the next morning. But I flew straight to KL instead of Singapore, because Irene left Singapore with her parents already in the morning. So we met in Kuala Lumpur. We met the first relatives in the city her mother grew up.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!REAL SATAY. Compared to the Sate in Indonesia, this was a festival of taste!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Sorry, but I haven't had such good sate/satay for quite some time.)

However, arriving in her uncles place Irene went from ??? to ????....

And her mother helped Irene's aunti cooking for the big night!

After moving our clothes to her cousin's new house, the fiesta began. At first Irene's uncle explained all (probably pretty annoying for all since they had to hear it again and again, but I think he did for me, I really appreciated it) the story and the meaning of the God of heaven. How the people try to trick him with treats and candy so that he gives some of the luck and money to the people and stays with them.
The food afterwards was gorgeous. I know we had Mrs. Tan fabulous Curry and Steamboat with Fish and Meatballs, Fish, Super shrimps. meat, pork, chicken, veggies..., but the rest was unnameable, but very yummy.

The eating went on for hours until midnight, when Irene turned 24. Here you see Irene, Mrs. Tan, Mr. Tan and her cousin. Her brother was not able to come, since the army did not give him vacation for the celebrations.

Soon this is official!

This is not the full family...only a part of it!

There are no pictures showing me playing...or better loosing Majongh, but that's ok...We visit a lot of relatives the next day before we head once again to Genting. We met Mr. Tan's one brother and played our beloved Ghost Squad, before we went to the Casino and won back every send we spend for the whole trip. All in all it was a very nice trip....Irene's Parents gave me a Majongh game, since i liked it so much. Now I am practicing for next year...I have to win!