A tale of three houses...three meals...three families...

Happy Chinese New Years! Year of the Pink! *Oink! Oink!*

Ok...so the year that I spend in China...my mom's family decides to come to California! My grandma, Uncle Ken, Uncle Chun, Aunt Gloria and Aunt Xiao You...just an uncle in not here! And a whole load of cousins...

Day 1: At my uncle Ken's house...

We bowed three times to the "ancestral tablet" that was made out of red construction paper with the Lin family name inscribed with a Sharpie marker...I couldn't help but laugh. Bad me. ;(

There was the traditional chicken, fish and oranges in the center of the table. Along with the feast was the traditional pig ears, tofu and egg...which half I didn't eat. Then there was shrimp, sashimi, jiao zi, ribs, fishbowl soup, tofu, noodles...

While the "Chinese people" played Mahjong...my cousins turned the game of UNO into a gambling game...how the heck do you gamble with UNO? While my sister, stepdad Jim and I played Scrabble. Do you see the cultural division?!? Haha.

The highlight of the evening was perhaps my ice cream sundae from Baskin Robbins that I treated Jim and myself to...from my red envelope money! ;)

My sister's boyfriend brought fireworks...but we were afraid that they would attract the cops! :(

Day Two: My Mom's House

Your typical American fourth of July meal! Chips, veggie tray, bbq, potato salad (I messed up and addded vinegar when I made it), pies, noodles and baked salmon. Yum! ;)
After eating, I was so sleepy....

Day Three: My Aunt's House/Beading day

I didn't go to my aunt's in Pleasanton. (Turns out there was drama there anyways) I hung out with my sister and friend Amy instead. I ate too many fruits fondue and cheese and crackers. We were supposed to bead...and we went to the bead store...but were too busy eating. Haha.

Afterwards, I continued with my strange goal to clean my junk in the garage...

Monterey on Saturday!! :-)

Greetings from America!

I am now in Rancho Cordova at my mom and stepdad's beautiful new home. Its nice here and I haven't suffered any reverse culure shock (yet) except for my stomach and my "wonderful" episodes of vomiting and "Montezuma's revenge." Was it Red Lobster? Was it the glass of milk? Was it the four pieces of pizza (which I all consumed in ONE day). Anyways, my dreams of eating long-craved American foods has been postponed for a few days. Just been eating boiled rice and plain noodles.

Haven't been able to do much as a result. I met up with Amy today to go to Michael's and Target. Got some chai tea, creamer, chocolates and caramel syrup...

Its really a funny thing...me going on a plane back to America. It was almost symbolic to the idea of me breaking into a world full of ideas, viewpoints, technology and education that Chinese has yet to "cross barriers." Such as the idea that nationality doesn't necessarily equal a certain race, and that nationality doesn't stand for a monetary status and that nationality doesn't mean a better life.

I loved looking at the fluffy white clouds outside the plane except that most of the ride was in the dark! ^_^