Week 3/4: Chinese New Year ~ Shu Ting

Hey readers! Chinese New Year is when I can see majority of my family in Malaysia. I get to have some time away from Singapore which is often a stressful environment for me. In Malaysia, I have no internet connection, and it is only then I would realise that the internet stresses me out a lot, so when I get back I would make the effort to stay away from it as much as I possibly could. 

This may sound slightly cliché, but I am somewhat indifferent to the amount of money I receive in my red packets, although I enjoy receiving notes and dollars to place in my bank account. I feel that yellow could be the colour to represent how I feel about Chinese New Year because it gives me a sense of happiness, warmth and prosperity. I am always glad to travel to Malaysia for CNY holidays and relax but at the same time do my given homework. The pace of life there just seems so much slower and I don't feel the need to be rushing through my tasks. I love being able to see my younger cousins again whom I haven't seen since a year ago. We get to reconnect and have fun together. 

I think the Mandarin oranges we give out when visiting would be a symbol I'd use to represent how I feel about Chinese New Year.CNY is when we can visit our extended families and I consider mine a friendly and loving bunch. Everyone would be catching up with one another's lives and I would be greeted with their warm smiles and hugs. Nothing feels better than family love. Well, with so many family members there would be more red packets handed out. Although I cringe when some of my relatives misspell my name on the red packets, I still forgive them as it is completely understandable.

I always stay in my grandmother's house in Malaysia for the Chinese New Year Holidays. Unlike my house in Singapore, her home is so much more cooling and cozy. Her house is always filled with food hence I would be able to always enjoy a afternoon snack whenever I want. Therefore I have used a picture of a random house in Malaysia to represent my views in relation to Chinese New Year.