This year's CNY somehow feels weird. Firstly, there was one home where we visited and the host didn't give me any angbao. Perhaps, the family thought that I am already married. But the host was totally oblivious even when my mum explicitly handed 3 ang baos to the host's children. Perhaps, times are so bad that this host is thinking he can save a few bucks. Anyway, i am not too hard-up for the lost income of $4 from this host's pathetic ang bao; just disappointed with his deliberate act of ignorance.
There were more interesting highlights when we moved on to my Grandma's house. It was a circus. My aunties were discussing how much they spent on getting their eye brows trimmed and then implanted with artificial eyebrows. Then their conversation went louder and louder as each described how painful the implantation process was- the eyebrow had to be first scraped by a sharp surgical knife, then fine needles poking through the skin etc. I wasn't too damn darn impressed.
It wasn't before long that they move on to the "Who lost the most weight contest?". The aunties and uncles will either praise/criticize one another for a bulging waist line or a reduced waistline. Regardless of the person's waistline, the comments that flew isn't nice at all. Let me elaborate- one uncle had a bigger waistline now and everyone warned him that he could develop health complications. Then another uncle successfully lost weight compared to last year. You might imagine the comments would be kinder. NO!!. He got worser comments, "OMG, are you having cancer? Why you look so thin?" OH WELL, i personally feel that this is the Elders' ways of creating topics to discuss and hopefully bid for time to end this awkard once-in-a-year renuion.
Subsequently, the aunties will discuss where they got their dresses made and try to boast their dress is the more expensive one. Some aunties will claim that they used a smaller budget to make the same pretty dresses and take a dig at the other aunties who spent big bucks. But it's amazing since the verbal exchanges are always so diplomatic. Hehe. Talk about aunties with sharP tongues.
Let's face it, all these relatives are nothing but a figment of your imagination since the contact is so remote. At least this holds truth between me and my relatives. Each year's CNY is funny in it's own right as i'm always amazed how i endured those renuion sessions.
Not to mention, that i am always the topic of discussion towards the end. Auntie A, "Aiyo ANdrew, why are you still so round?" Uncle B, "you seEmed the same last year but rounder"
Well, i politely replied, " you got nothing better to say ah?" Then they will jump to my marriage. Qs: "Andrew, where is your gf?"
Ans:(to spike em), "Oh im busy earning big bucks."
Qs: "No lar, you must juggle your career and love life"
Ans: "Nope, when you have $, women will flock to you. Period!"
Anyway lol, im sure each family's CNY experience is unique, cumbersome if not agonising. Some may have it sweet. To these folks, i envy you.
2 comments:
Hey bro it's me again. Somehow we always manage to be led onto the same train of thoughts at certain points in time. I believe this isn't the first time. ha. anyway, I was discussing with my English/Australian boss about what his Chinese wife's relatives will comment on when they go back to China together - the typical questions like what you have blogged of. And he said to the ang mohs, it's very rude to make such comments. Only praises are worthy to come out from their mouths. This is perhaps one thing we Chinese should learn from them on the bandwagon of Westernisation.
haha well.. eh.. i think.. your boss's wife' family will be nice to him since he is Ang mor. HEHE
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