thanks[forthe]giving
both historically and culturally, it has been a tradition for certain days to be set aside for reflection on life's blessings and thanksgiving each calendar year. as an asian brought up in a the southeast-asian city of singapore, the US version (with roasted turkey) has been rather alien - inasmuch as the turkey is a foreign bird, as the harvest is a removed concept to us in a country with less than 10% of land-use designated for agrarian purposes.
reunion dinner (on the eve of chinese new year) is the closest i can think of, in terms of a celebration of familial ties and a grateful nod to the gods for provisions in a prosperous year. but. being the superstitious bunch we chinese frequently are, customs are traditionally carried out more as an act of setting-store for the next year, than really being thankful for the year that has passed. as a forward-looking measure, 2 mandarin oranges are offered to each elder to signify prosperity and luck. sleeping late on the eve of chinese new year is fuelled by the belief that the long waking hours will bring longevity to one's parents. the preparation of a fish for reunion dinner ensures (or hopes to, at least) surplus in the year to come.
to remind myself a bit on an appropriate level of thankfulness, i thought i'd list, in alphabetical order, the stuff which have made me happy this year.
from apartment therapy
armadillo, the cardboard chair i entered a competition with, which didn't win, but got sold.
the smell of freshly baked bread from bakeries i walk past.
cats and coffee, and the warmth they give me.
the wiener-dog (or daschund, for purists) that had stolen my heart for the past 15 years.
english breakfast tea.
fake accents to adopt for pranks, and for speaking to the angmohs so they'd understand. also, my family, whom i have learnt to accept, love and miss while i'm away.
god, and guardian angels who surprise me with parking spaces when everywhere seems to be full, and watch over me as i make my 40-minute drive to school.
for days with sore throats and hangovers, warm drinks of honey with lemon.
invisible cities by italo calvino.
though a reluctant muggle, j k rowling.
stories of ragnarok... myths to keep me wondering.
the blue-tongue lizard i almost had for a pet this year. i really liked you, y'know? and also, lucifer, my trusty ol' car. :)
memories of childhood.
the NIN concert - my first.
from my favourite indonesian restaurant in melbs, oxtail stew.
another of my favourite foods, prata! the best ever: cheese, egg plaster.
the quietness you experience during nights spent out in the aussie outback.
white, fluffy home-cooked rice.
sun, sea and sand. not to mention stars in the nightsky.
tapas that's yummy in my tummy.
having nice clean underwear to change into, after a nice long bath.
the voice inside my head.
world wide web for instant contact with family and friends when i'm away from singas.
excellent service from waitstaff - this, i find, i sometimes take for granted.
those yellow dandelion flowers that are pretty as flowers, and even prettier as dried-up seeds ready to be blown away!
z: symbology and iconography that have kept me hooked on dan brown novels at rather inopportune moments (prior to submissions, for instance).
reunion dinner (on the eve of chinese new year) is the closest i can think of, in terms of a celebration of familial ties and a grateful nod to the gods for provisions in a prosperous year. but. being the superstitious bunch we chinese frequently are, customs are traditionally carried out more as an act of setting-store for the next year, than really being thankful for the year that has passed. as a forward-looking measure, 2 mandarin oranges are offered to each elder to signify prosperity and luck. sleeping late on the eve of chinese new year is fuelled by the belief that the long waking hours will bring longevity to one's parents. the preparation of a fish for reunion dinner ensures (or hopes to, at least) surplus in the year to come.
to remind myself a bit on an appropriate level of thankfulness, i thought i'd list, in alphabetical order, the stuff which have made me happy this year.
from apartment therapy
armadillo, the cardboard chair i entered a competition with, which didn't win, but got sold.
the smell of freshly baked bread from bakeries i walk past.
cats and coffee, and the warmth they give me.
the wiener-dog (or daschund, for purists) that had stolen my heart for the past 15 years.
english breakfast tea.
fake accents to adopt for pranks, and for speaking to the angmohs so they'd understand. also, my family, whom i have learnt to accept, love and miss while i'm away.
god, and guardian angels who surprise me with parking spaces when everywhere seems to be full, and watch over me as i make my 40-minute drive to school.
for days with sore throats and hangovers, warm drinks of honey with lemon.
invisible cities by italo calvino.
though a reluctant muggle, j k rowling.
stories of ragnarok... myths to keep me wondering.
the blue-tongue lizard i almost had for a pet this year. i really liked you, y'know? and also, lucifer, my trusty ol' car. :)
memories of childhood.
the NIN concert - my first.
from my favourite indonesian restaurant in melbs, oxtail stew.
another of my favourite foods, prata! the best ever: cheese, egg plaster.
the quietness you experience during nights spent out in the aussie outback.
white, fluffy home-cooked rice.
sun, sea and sand. not to mention stars in the nightsky.
tapas that's yummy in my tummy.
having nice clean underwear to change into, after a nice long bath.
the voice inside my head.
world wide web for instant contact with family and friends when i'm away from singas.
excellent service from waitstaff - this, i find, i sometimes take for granted.
those yellow dandelion flowers that are pretty as flowers, and even prettier as dried-up seeds ready to be blown away!
z: symbology and iconography that have kept me hooked on dan brown novels at rather inopportune moments (prior to submissions, for instance).
posted by limegreenspyda at 8:54:00 pm
4 Comments:
i suppose i'm thankful too, for a whole lotta stuff - and i'll be even more thankful if i don't get asked The Question by the rellies for another five years.
s: just avoid those rellies then. or divert their attention.
lonelylolacherrycola: yup. if you cannot be a steward of little things, the same cannot be said for big things, i think.
hey you're back in sg!
i suddenly feel so backdated especially since i've been too busy to be surfing blogs!!!!
after staying in hall for one sem, i am extremely thankful for mummy and her good food!
wah wah, go home liao, go home liao
hee hee
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