Happy one year anniversary to American Peach in China! It seems fitting to write a long overdue post as the year of the Ox comes to a close. February 14th initiates the year of the white metal tiger and promises changes within every sphere of life, including love, politics, and career.
This will be my first Chinese New Year in 3 years away from China. I normally go back to Ningyuan, the rural Hunan town I taught in my first year, to visit what has become my second home and family. As with all of life, there are cycles, and I'm left with the irony that the same sadness and nostalgia I felt at missing out on my first Christmas away from home in Ningyuan is similiar to how I feel now---a world away from my loved ones during the biggest celebration of the year.
One of the benefits of my recent move to San Francisco, however, is an abundance of Chinese people and culture, so I will ring in the year of the tiger with new friends in a fresh place. Forget Valentine's Day chocolates--I hope to eat copious amounts of jiaozi (dumplings), pork, and maybe even some kao ya (roast duck). Moreoever, between the Mandarin groups I've joined and new friends, I have abundant opportunities to keep up and continue learning Chinese. The real challenge will be to read one of my favorite books, Snow Flower and the Secret Fan, in Chinese characters. I figure if I do a page or two a day, my character base will grow exponentially.
I encourage you all to check out the link above to the website. It offers a great deal of information about the year ahead, and even provides an opporunity to couple your Western astrological sign with your Chinese one. Allow me to be the first one to wish you xin nian kuai le!
