Sunday, January 25, 2009

Chinese New Year

Tomorrow is Chinese New Year, marking the first day of the new year in the Chinese calendar. Every Chinese is busy preparing for this auspicious day. Tonight everyone in the family will be home to celebrate the reunion dinner together. No matter where a person is, he or she will make it a point to be home for this dinner. When I was younger, it was always mum and dad and we, the children. We never celebrated this day with our grandparents. I would say it was quite a lonely affair if I compare it to now. Ever since my parents became grandparents, the reunion dinner has become a very noisy affair. All my siblings and my nephews and nieces will be home. Then, there will be lots of eating, drinking and merrymaking. Of course, prior to the dinner, we have a lot to do. Running around getting everything that's needed. It is very tiring but in the end, looking at all the happy faces, it is worth it. I remember, when I was younger, my siblings and I would always look forward to getting ang pows and we would be counting the number of ang pows that we would get. But now that we are adults, it is our turn to give out these ang pows. It's still the tradition that those who are not married do not give ang pows but I would give ang pows to my nephews and nieces, just so that they can have an extra collection of them. This year we are having barbecue again. We have added something new, that's steamboat. Everything's prepared and we are waiting for everyone to be here to start the merrymaking. Finally, a very Happy and Prosperous Chinese New Year to one and all! May the year of the ox bring us good health.

jennyiyan's recollections...

Sunday, January 11, 2009

That's life...

It's Sunday again. Tomorrow the madness will begin, again. The first week at work was really hectic. The moment I stepped foot into my workplace, everything started to zoom and at the end of the day, I was practically drained out. Sigh. What a way to begin 2009! All these happen because we have a new head. With a head who is very ambitious, someone who wants changes to be done instantly, all we who are working with her are pushed to the limit. We had to attend meeting after meeting and all these meetings would last a few hours! And there are still meetings for the coming week! Complaints can be heard everywhere. Of course, no matter how unlikeable a head is, there will definitely be people on her side, though very few. People who love to be seen with the head and these are also the people who would get away with things. If they are unhappy with a certain task given to them, they just have to go to her and come up with some nonsensical excuses and they get away with it. They are also the ones who will carry tales. I anticipate a very difficult year ahead because she has laid out all her guidelines and her expectation is very high. However, I have made up my mind to continue to work as I have always done, to do my best in everything and if she is still not satisfied, so be it. One thing that I'm looking forward to at this moment is the Chinese New Year which will be celebrated in two weeks' time. It will not only be a time to be with my beloved Iyan, Ilynne and family but a time where I can really forget about work and just enjoy the holiday. I think it's still not too late to wish everyone a Happy New Year 2009 and for those who celebrate the Chinese New Year, a very Happy Chinese New Year and may you all be blessed abubdantly with all the good things in life.

jennyiyan's recollections...