The Chinese New Year has arrived again and this year, it seem like everyone has been looking forward towards this day. In the campus, everyone was so excited and can’t wait for the class to end. I don’t think they are really paying attention to what the lecturer said. Most of them were daydreaming, thinking about going back to hometown, celebrating with their family, what to eat for dinner, which body parts should be sacrifice to play firecracker and etc. The most obvious one would be my friend, Ting San. She really looking forward to going back home and celebrate the New Year with her family. I think this is the first time I see her so happy and jovial. She keep on smiling, laughing and said that she can’t wait to go back home after spending 2 weeks staying on her own. Yeah, her happiness is kinda contagious and I can’t help but feel happy for her too.
However, looking at how excited she is to celebrate the Chinese New Year, make me think about how I feel toward this celebration. To be honestly, I never liked celebrating it and not even once that I actually really feel happy about it. One of the main reasons is the language barrier. (Those who know me well will understand what I mean) Almost all of my grandparents-uncles-aunties-cousins-nephews-parent’s friends speak Chinese. Some of you might ask me why I don’t just speak English with them since they can speak that language too. Well, there is a difference between able to speak in English and able to speak English FLUENTLY. Yeah, of course they can speak in English but the way they speak is like they are not comfortable with it and it’s a torturous task for them. Hence, if I have nothing to say, I’ll keep my mouth shut to avoid any awkward moment. Due to my ‘disadvantage’, I don’t have a very close relationship with any of my parent’s parents and their siblings. In fact, I’m closer to my friend than to those who I shared a blood relationship with.
Another reason is the name-calling tradition. In European’s family, they can call their parent’s sibling as uncle/aunty and followed by their name. (For example: Uncle Bush, Auntie Obama). But in Chinese’s tradition, you have to call each of them by following their ‘ranks’. (For example: Tua Yi (the eldest ‘aunty’), Sai Yi( the youngest ‘aunty’, Ah Ku (the uncle) and etc). It’s ok if you have a few aunties/uncles but how if you have around 6-9 aunties/uncles, each from your parent’s side? OMG. I found it very troublesome but according to custom, it’s a sign of respect to the elders. Yeah, it’s true but do they have to make things so complicated? Isn’t an honest regard is the most important thing than having to force yourself to call them for the sake of so-called respecting the elders? Still, it’s just my opinion and I have no intention of criticizing this tradition (maybe just a little bit). I just have to bear it for around 1 week and it’ll be over. Nevertheless, I wish all the Chinese people who can speak Chinese, a very Happy Chinese New Year and hope you guys enjoy your holiday while I’m trying to recall back on the proper ways to call my uncles/aunties.
Yeon Ciat's Space 