Chinese New Year

Saturday was Chinese New Year's Eve.  Our good friends, Allan and Lucy invited us, along with others to their place to make traditional Chinese dumplings then celebrate with them.  It was great fun learning the art of dumpling making.  Celebrating our first Chinese New Year with Li Lin was also really special.  A week earlier, Rykauna and I took Li Lin shopping at a local Chinese mall and purchased her a new CNY dress.  I really liked the red ones, but Li Lin had her heart set on the little pink one in the pictures.  Unfortunately, the snaps on the dress did not even last the night, so it seems it won't be worn much :( 

Rolling out the dough balls into round discs

Adding the filling

Dumplings ready for the pot!

 The traditional Chinese New Year dress.  Love it!

Both of us in our Chinese outfits

The children love the tradition of receiving red envelopes with money or chocolate money inside for Chinese New Year.   Who wouldn't?!

A week before lunar New Year I had gone into our neighbourhood Chinese grocery store to purchase some red envelopes for some of my Sunday School children.  As I was standing beside the envelope table and trying to pick the prettiest envelopes I noticed an Asian woman kind of watching me.  I noticed she was sort of staring at me, but did not mind at all, knowing it is not everyday a white woman buys red envelopes for Chinese New Year.  I figured she was just a little curious.  I picked up a package, and was just about to walk to the cash with it when she said to me.  "You don't want those. Take these instead."

I looked up at her a little surprised.
Then she said, "The ones in your hand say, 'Congratulations on opening up your new business'.  You want these ones that say 'Best wishes in the New Year'."  LOL!

I thanked her for her kindness and headed to the cash. I would have been totally embarrassed giving these out to kids whose parents read and speak mandarin.  I guess it would have made for a good laugh.  Turns out, my teaching partner had already purchased some, so we didn't need the ones I bought in the end anyway. 

Lesson learned though, if I can't read it, I won't buy it next time.