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Back to reality with a thud after my fantastic holiday to Laos and Cambodia. Got back to Nanjing to find that it was FREEZING.......not just my imagination.......we actually got snow. It was quite funny as I opened my curtains one morning and thought something didn't look right and then I realised that the roof opposite my apartment was white not black......yes I know I'm blonde!!!
Got back the day before Lantern Festival which is a really big deal here.
Lantern Festival, also called Shangyuan Festival, is celebrated on the first full moon night in the Chinese lunar year, symbolizing the return of spring. Lantern Festival is regarded as the last day of Spring Festival and a good day for family get-together. According to the folk custom of China, people on the night will lighten up fancy lanterns and go out to appreciate the moon, set off fireworks, guess riddles written on lanterns, and eat rice glue balls to celebrate the festival.
The tradition of appreciating lanterns on the Lantern Festival originates from the Eastern Han Dynasty. In the Song Dynasty, the custom of guessing riddles written on lanterns on Lantern Festival came into being and people at that time wrote riddles on paper strips and then pasted them on the colorful lanterns for others to appreciate and guess. In the Qing Dynasty, fireworks were set off to add fun, and the Lantern Festival by then witnessed a record-breaking grand occasion. The traditional dim sum eaten on Lantern Festival is called "yuanxiao" (rice glue ball) or commonly called "tangyuan" and means of family reunion and happiness. Yuanxiao are made into a ball shape with white sugar, sweetened bean paste, nuts and sesame as the stuffing.
Well for me the festival was 24 hours of non-stop fireworks exploding all around the city and driving me crazy!!! Don't mind a few fireworks but let me assure you hour after hour gets a bit tedious. I decided not to venture out that night as I'd been warned everywhere would be packed with people all jostling for position and besides it was about -4 degrees.
Ventured out over the next day or 2 to have a look at some of the lanterns around town. Some truly are a work of art and it was much more enjoyable being able to see them without being crowded in.
Its funny being back in China even though I never left Asia...its really is different here...... I've really noticed two things....the constant blaring of car horns and the incessant spitting on the streets. It seems that patience and manners have bypassed many citizens here!!!!!
Back teaching this week and I have to spend tomorrow supervising the supplementary exams for the students who failed. Now I really feel like its me being punished - not only do I have to set another paper BUT I have to give up part of my weekend to run the exam....not very happy I can tell you!!!
Am being optimistic that spring is around the corner and busy planning several trips with another teacher. We want to get out and about in the countryside to see more of the country but also want to be warm and comfortable wile doing it....so you can all look forward to more tales of adventure!!!!
Nothing else to report on for now so its bye from me. xxx
Got back the day before Lantern Festival which is a really big deal here.
Lantern Festival, also called Shangyuan Festival, is celebrated on the first full moon night in the Chinese lunar year, symbolizing the return of spring. Lantern Festival is regarded as the last day of Spring Festival and a good day for family get-together. According to the folk custom of China, people on the night will lighten up fancy lanterns and go out to appreciate the moon, set off fireworks, guess riddles written on lanterns, and eat rice glue balls to celebrate the festival.
The tradition of appreciating lanterns on the Lantern Festival originates from the Eastern Han Dynasty. In the Song Dynasty, the custom of guessing riddles written on lanterns on Lantern Festival came into being and people at that time wrote riddles on paper strips and then pasted them on the colorful lanterns for others to appreciate and guess. In the Qing Dynasty, fireworks were set off to add fun, and the Lantern Festival by then witnessed a record-breaking grand occasion. The traditional dim sum eaten on Lantern Festival is called "yuanxiao" (rice glue ball) or commonly called "tangyuan" and means of family reunion and happiness. Yuanxiao are made into a ball shape with white sugar, sweetened bean paste, nuts and sesame as the stuffing.
Well for me the festival was 24 hours of non-stop fireworks exploding all around the city and driving me crazy!!! Don't mind a few fireworks but let me assure you hour after hour gets a bit tedious. I decided not to venture out that night as I'd been warned everywhere would be packed with people all jostling for position and besides it was about -4 degrees.
Ventured out over the next day or 2 to have a look at some of the lanterns around town. Some truly are a work of art and it was much more enjoyable being able to see them without being crowded in.
Its funny being back in China even though I never left Asia...its really is different here...... I've really noticed two things....the constant blaring of car horns and the incessant spitting on the streets. It seems that patience and manners have bypassed many citizens here!!!!!
Back teaching this week and I have to spend tomorrow supervising the supplementary exams for the students who failed. Now I really feel like its me being punished - not only do I have to set another paper BUT I have to give up part of my weekend to run the exam....not very happy I can tell you!!!
Am being optimistic that spring is around the corner and busy planning several trips with another teacher. We want to get out and about in the countryside to see more of the country but also want to be warm and comfortable wile doing it....so you can all look forward to more tales of adventure!!!!
Nothing else to report on for now so its bye from me. xxx
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