Me vs. Me

Infusing the American culture with the Chinese culture has been an internal conflict: whether to go with the American ways that I have been submerged into all my life, or stick with the Chinese ways of things.

Fun vs. rules

There's different traditions when it comes to celebrating New Years. For Americans, it may be watching the ball drop at midnight, going out to parties with friends and family, and just enjoying that night for one day. In my family, Lunar New Year celebration lasts for 15 days. And the preparation for the New Year isn't even accounted for in those 15 days. Two or three days before the actual day of the Lunar New Year, there's the cleaning and tidying up the house. This tradition can be compared with American culture of Spring cleaning. However, the significant meaning in the Chinese culture is a fresh start for a new year. Floors need to be scrubbed, rooms need to be cleaned, dust needs to be wiped. Decorations are put up around the house. Then on the eve of Lunar New Year, my entire family needs to get together for dinner. During this dinner, everyone needs to be EXTRA careful about NOT DROPPING the chopsticks or any utensils onto the floor. After dinner, we put out my favorite thing - the candy box. The candy box is filled with different candies, to be offered for guests or just for us to eat. It signifies a sweet beginning of the New Year. When the day of Lunar New Year comes, I have to eat vegan in the morning, as a form of spiritual cleansing. During this period of 15 days, I am not to buy shoes, because it sounds like a "sigh". We are not suppose to sweep because the broom is "sweeping away the luck and fortune." Two new years, completely different customs and traditions. This goes to show that even for a holiday such as New Year, they are viewed with completely different meaning. I, after fully understanding the Chinese traditions, found it a bit tedious and constraining to follow all the different customs of celebrating the Lunar New Year. Shouldn't celebrating the New Year be a bit more relaxing as opposed to so many "rules?"

Promiscuous vs. Conservatism

I'm going to begin talking about a topic we can all relate to, celebrity gossip. Sex scandals and homemade sex tapes are all over the net and it seems that every three weeks another celebrity on TMZ for a nipple slip or something more promiscuous. Now I'll compare to the Edison Chen Scandal that happened in Hong Kong that caused a media riot through Hong Kong, China, and even carried to America. It was the headline for Chinese American newspapers for two months. Youtube hits soared for Edison's apology video. Thus, it seems like a sex video just fuel the American celebrities fame and keeps the flame going. Britney Spears is coming out with hit music and her sex scandal seem to be a shadow as another female celebrity steps in the spotlight with something exposed. On the other hand, Mr. Chen's career is in the gutter. There is almost no chance I will be seeing his face in Hong Kong media anymore. The Chinese shun those in the media who are promiscuous. But under American influence, I've been numbed by all the scandals and viewed Mr. Chen's scandal as just "another piece of news" and its nothing to be blown out of proportion in my opinion.

Bringing this idea of promiscuity and conservatism, I come back to a more regional aspect, something that we can see for ourselves. 
I would first have to say I'm not at all trying to offend anyone, and that this is a generalization based solely on what I observe everyday. It may not apply to those reading this passage.
From living in New York and traveling to Hong Kong, I see that the way of dressing and behaviors are very different. In New York, girls are dressed more openly. American girls are more liberating and are not afraid to show a little skin. It's shocking how they're openly flirty with all the guys everywhere - in the subways, in the streets, everywhere. A girl is sitting on a guy's lap on the subway, a girl is loosening her belt to show a guy her tattoo on her hip. These acts in the streets of New York may seen normal, but in Hong Kong, this is rare. Girls are dressed more conservatively, cautious of being too revealing. They maintain their space between guys and keep their distance. As for me, I'm for the Chinese way of dressing conservatively and keeping it PG in the public.

So what will it be? Am I more inclined towards the American culture or Chinese culture? I would say, both. I don't identify myself with just one, but a mixture of the two.

648,086,400 and counting

Seconds pass by everyday. Unrealized, seemingly insignificant seconds.
Everyone asks, "Where did the time go?"


648,086,400 seconds. Time devoted to school. To dragonboating. To TV and sleep! To my family, my friends. To what I love.
Ever since I can remember, school has always been a part of my life as a student. From when to do homework to when I can watch my TV dramas, everything else has been planned around my school schedule. I'm working on pursuing my degree in accounting, but somewhere down the line, when I can actually afford it, I want to take piloting lessons and learn to fly a private plane. That dream, will take some time to accomplish.
I took up dragonboating, a water team sport, a couple of summers ago and fell in love with this sport! It's entirely a team sport. (definitely can't row a 2-ton boat by yourself!) I've participated in several races with my team, and sure, winning is great. But the team bonding every year is just incredible. Those are the moments I treasure and are unforgettable.
TV and SLEEP! Can't neglect those two! I LOVE to watch tv. I can spend a whole day watching my TVB dramas and my television dramas. I can't live without my tv. It's on most of the time, whether I'm watching it, or I just left it on for background noise. Sleep is sleep. I love to sleep, even though I don't get enough of it.
It's just so refreshing. My dreams are crazy and I happen to remember almost all the details of my dreams. What's not to love about sleep.
Lastly, my time goes out to my family and friends - people whom I love the most. They are the pillars of my life when I need support and guidance. They give me laughter, smiles, memories, tears. Everything that makes me who I am. I give as much time to them as I can, be there for them when I'm needed or not, and just do everything that I can for them.


648,086,400 seconds and counting. Time that has gone, but definitely not wasted.