Happy New Year

i can't believe its already been 3 months since I last blogged. many of my friends have noticed and have asked why i haven't been blogging as much, etc. thanks everyone who have showed concern. i've just been really busy with a whole bunch of things. being unemployed since september really gave me alot of time to: think about things, gather projects i've been wanting to finish, spend more mommy and me time with babypork, write more emails, learn new things, find new hobbies, exercise more, catch-up with old friends and much much more.

so let's put the last couple months behind us and move on to happenings these past couple of weeks. well, first of all, it was chinese new year and it was papapork's bday as well that same day. we spent papapork's bday very low-key this year and spent a nice family day together doing everything we loved - eating the yummiest sushi and did some fun shopping.

we celebrated chinese new year with my parents and brother's family at my parents place having the traditional chinese dinner we do each year. this year i've realized that i really do enjoy those very traditional dinners we have over chinese new years. the traditional chinese dishes that all have meaning to the new year... the fish for good luck, the "faat choi" (hair looking vermicelli) which symbolizes "wealth"... the mushrooms, the "no meat" (jai) dish we always eat with taro roots and vermicelli in it plus many others more that i don't even know how to describe. i'm really glad that my mother knows how to make all those fancy asian dishes and sometimes when i sit here to think about it, i get a bit sad to know that the tradition and this culture might slowly get drifted away generations after generations. although i am not born here and i am not an ABC (American Born Chinese), i still can't consider myself 100% true chinese either. the amount of time i spent growing up in the US, the amount of chinese i can actually read and now when i think about the cultural chinese cooking, i am no expert at that at all.

i want to be able to bring down the chinese tradition to my little babypork someday. i want to be able to cook those traditional authentic new year dishes my own mother could do for my own family someday. i must learn it from my mom. i don't want to be the one who ends this tradition that my mother and grandmother and great grandmother have passed down through their generation. i need to continue this tradition for my family.

but i know someday, my little babypork... who is the 1st chinese-american born here (1st generation), i will have to accept that this tradition might slowly get drifted away. i just hope someday, my babypork(s) will at least want to come home to celebrate this special holiday called "chinese new year" with his parents back home enjoying traditional cultural food and have great conversations altogether. and in order for me to continue this tradition for my own family, i will put my heart to learn how to make all those traditional dishes my mother have made for us all these years. (and with the help of papapork who is much better than me in this chinese cultural thing and all the chinese funky ingredients, i think i might just be okay).

and someday i just hope my own babypork(s) will want to continue this tradition for themselves and their families as well. 

Comments

[Francis]

your references to babypork(s), does this mean you're prego again?

[Anna]

Tradition is important. I spent the Sunday before CNY this year w/ my mom and grandma making 蘿蔔糕 for Chinese New Year. Yum!

[piggy]

No, dorky... not prego...not yet... Ha! but maybe someday again. Happy Chinese New Year!

['kristin]

stumbled upon your blog when friendster was down one day and i must say.. i loved every post.

at 24, even i can't wait to be a mom now ;p

thanks for the sharing.

[JURYBEL]

Dear friend,

Have you accepted God's free gift? God loves you, He loves you and I so much.....that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life ( John 3:16 NIV). The Bible says in Romans 3:23 that all of us have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. In other words, we have all missed the mark. But if we will admit that we have sinned and confess our sins, God is faithful and true to His word and will forgive us and wash us clean from everything wrong that we've done ( see 1 John 1:9). If you have never invited Jesus to be your Lord and Savior, I invite you to do so now. The Bible promises that when you pray a prayer like the one written here from your heart, you will experience a new life in Christ.

Simply read it aloud and mean it from your heart.

SAY:

Father, I come to You just as I am. There is nothing I can do to earn salvation-----I cannot work my way into a right relationship with You. The Bible says that we are saved by grace through faith as a gift from you. I confess that I have sinned against You and others. I ask You to forgive me and wash me clean with the precious, life-giving blood of Jesus Christ, Your Son. I believe that He died for me---He took my sin upon Himself and died on the cross for me. And I believe that He was raised from the dead, giving me power over the enemy. Jesus, I ask You to come live inside of me. I don't understand everything about being a Christian, but I invite You into my life to help me learn daily how I am to live. Thank You, Father, for Your gift of restoration and eternal life. I am so grateful for Your love and mercy. In Jesus'name, amen.

[Wen]

interesting to know. Nice blog and nice comments. thx

[-Jacko-]

kontol la

[sHiDoRi]

your sooo malambat,,,,,,,,,,,,,,

[sHiDoRi]

interesting to know. nice blog and nice comments....

[Robin]

I totally agree with you..

like piggy I stumbled upon your blog when friendster was down one day

and like you, I've been stuck smack in a foreign country where new experiences may be refreshing and fulfilling, but the familiar traditions and important cultural identity seems to be missing and slipping as days go by

Perhaps I am much fortunate as I have a liking to cook and have always been mom's right-hand-man, or boy for that matter) since an early age of 9, everyday preparing for dinner and on festive occasions

I love the festive dishes you mentioned, and I'm proud to say that I can and have prepared them on many occasions for my friends and family here in Melbourne albeit not as authentic and gloriously delicious like mom's version.

The good thing tho about the Chinese is that most Chinese families, even overseas Chinese, place a fair bit opf emphasis on the importance of our cultural roots. Perhaps thats why we have Chinatowns in places where even a small but significant community is present. For that we're thankful that all the 'exotic' ingredients that are required for the festive dishes are readily available in most places, at a premium of course (I've stayed in the UK, France, Hungary, Czech, and even Romania, so I guess it's the same in the US).

Anyways, good luck with your cooking, learning, and teaching the next generations the art of cultural cuisine.

Thanks for your blog entries, nice read

If you want to exchange recipes or cooking tips , just drop me a buzz

[Meilani]

Hi Piggy, I saw your photos on Photo Album especially the 'New York City' ones. I can see that your pics had a good composition and angle. Are you a Photographer or your hobby is photography?
Well, I would like to make a friend with you. So I could enjoy your shots next time. Please add me at royalcre_mei@yahoo.com. Thanks.

[Mark Joel]

i need a goood blogs

[-dyTa-]

there are a lot of comments. nice job, piggy! keep up the good work! x)

[Darth Vader]

Yes, is true..I like those dishes. The taste and the aroma somehow has the power to bring back memories and the festive atmosphere.

[zynia]

i enjoyed a lot reading your blog!! and happy enough to read that you do not to be drifted away from your culture and traditions.just like me i may be in this country for several years but then i never forget my culture and traditons of our beautiful country "PHILIPPINES" so proud to shout to the whole world that i am a FILIPINO!!
anyway may god bless you whoever you are and Kung Hei Fat Choy!!

[tina]

well fine..

[-Jianzy-]

Great blog you have there. Its good to know that the chinese in foreign countries dont forget about their roots ;)

I'm a Malaysian born chinese and well i can't read or write chinese very well but i can certainly speak the language :P
Oh yeah, food is top priority for chinese people so make sure you learn how to cook asian dishes ^^

Good luck

[gary]

well good

['AiLeEn']

haha!!
hello kitty
is soo...
KAWAII!! ( ^^, )

[david]

tis new year so bored...

no friend no parents wit beside me

feel lonely...

[rose]

i like food and i like kidss, im a mother of a 15 yr old girl, can i b ur frend? pls add espiritu_lenina@yahoo.com.ph

[Yuli]

Chinese New Year is very nice.. Next time better..