[gong xi ni] the chinese year is back again -- and with it, i can't help but remember home fondly. everyone gets the rest of the week off.. children collect their lucky money.. and adults STUFF their faces with delicious home-cooked food and special dishes that are only concocted at this time of year. my dad told me a story about how when he was a kid, he looked forward to the first day of new year sooo badly because he got to wear his new socks, underwear, and clothes! the night before, he would lay out his clothes so that he could snap his new clothes on instantly and bring in the new year. my mom, on the other hand, says that she would sleep in new pyjamas so that when SHE woke up, she'd already be wearing new clothes :)

[prelude to my uninterestingness] though i still worry that i'm often quite bland, i remember that if i weren't special in one way or another, i wouldn't be loved by my near and dear, nor would i find pleasure in finding a free bag of skittles in the vending machine :D same goes for all of you :) don't forget you're special too - xin nien kuai leh!!