照片

paternal grandparents

Unfortunately, I didn't bring my camera on the other 2 days we visited other relatives so... next time, I'll try to remember then I'll be able to take a picture with my cousins and maternal side of the family. :)

新年快乐！

今天 是 新年初一。我们 去 拜 访 镇祖母。(my maternal side... ok I'm really bad at the names especially in Chinese.)镇 祖母 煮 的 菜饭 美味 可口，香 喷喷的， 有虾，汤，popiah, ngoh hiang 和 炸鸡。她 煮 的菜 很 好吃，我想 外婆 是 继承她的基因 所以 煮 饭 也 是 她 的 拿手。
We had a great time eating and talking. Another thing, it's almost always during Chinese New Year that I'm reminded of the generation differences. For example, I've aunties and uncles on both sides of the family who are around the same age as my brothers and I or younger. It's quite funny to address them as a 长辈 because of their age even though it's the appropriate address to use. :)

Aside from that, I got to know teochew culture just a teeny bit better when we ate at a teochew restaurant with my paternal grandparents during a reunion lunch on the eve of Chinese New Year. (Usually my grandfather cooks and we eat at their home but this year was different.) So, I got to know more about the dishes that the teochews specialize in like "onni" which is a teochew yam dessert that's sweet and nice. I also found out that our teochew ancestors home is in the Guang dong province of China in some village (I forgot the name of it... need to ask my grandfather again). It's cool to know about all these facts and I hope to be able to visit the place one day. Sad to say, I don't speak the language and I know little about my own dialect's culture. I think I should make an effort to learn more about teochew culture and language so that I can truly say, " wah si teo chew nang!" (teo chew for I'm a teochew!)

Tomorrow is going to be another busy day of visiting and eating. I'm looking forward to mostly the fellowship with my relatives, eating and the 红包。:D