Or in Mandarin that's "xin nian kuai le", approximately pronounced "shin knee-an coo-eye luh" with some up and down tones that I'm skipping right over. I used an online audio tool to practice this greeting, and then went for a walk this afternoon to practice on real Chinese people, which was way more fun! The first person I met was Chen Lijuan, the concierge in our apartment building, pictured at left. I am quite fond of her--she's warm, gracious and earnestly helpful. "Xin nian kuai le," I said, and she rewarded me with a big smile, the same greeting returned, and a little additional help with my pronunciation. Lijuan told me a few weeks ago that she wasn't going home for the holiday, but would instead stay here and work (earning overtime pay) and celebrate with friends. She lives in a northern province where it's cold, and it's a long, expensive trip to get there. Yesterday when Leah and I were walking through the lobby, Lijuan presented us with a heart-shaped box of gold foil-wrapped chocolates. We were surprised and touched by her gesture. I think she wanted to reciprocate because a few days ago I'd given her a red envelope with some money for a New Year's present. Later, I wondered if I'd forgotten my manners and rudely accepted her gift with only one hand. It's considered polite to hand something to someone, especially a gift, with both hands, and to receive it with both hands, as well.
The weather was very pleasant today, sunny and in the high 60's this afternoon. Lijuan told me that good weather on New Year's Day is an auspicious beginning for the year! I took this photo about 5 p.m. on the grounds of our apartment complex. Families were strolling on the promenade on Shenzhen Bay; the Hong Kong New Territory mountains are just barely visible across the water. The family on the lower left was picnicking and playing cards. The older man in this group who's kneeling is peeling a pomelo, which is like a huge delicious grapefruit, but less juicy and less tangy.
Orange trees are a special New Year's decoration, seen all over in front of business places and found in homes, too. The trees come in all sizes. The one in the center of this display is the largest I've seen. The small clementine-type oranges are edible, as I understand it. We've wondered why people don't help themselves to the oranges on these trees. In this case there's a security guard by the gate, seen to the immediate right of the tree, who would doubtless discourage picking these oranges. This display is in front of the Coastal Rose apartment complex, popular with expats in our neighborhood and similar to The Peninsula where we live.
Many people wear red, a least a touch of it, on New Year's Day since this color is associated with good fortune. You maybe noticed the red sprinkled around in the crowd picture above, and these 3 are all wearing at least a bit of red, too. This couple saw me with my camera while I was out walking this afternoon and seemed to assume that I most certainly would want to take a picture of their precious grandchild. That happens often here when people are out with their young children. The Chinese people I've observed seem to adore their children.
After I took their picture, I thanked them, "xie xie", and of course said, "xin nian kuai le." They smiled and wished me the same.
Even the shrubs have dropped red petals along the sidewalk to dress it up for New Year's! Well, no, actually the red stuff sprinkled on the ground is all fresh debris from fireworks that most likely were set off last night.
Fireworks are a very important part of Chinese New Year. They're supposed to drive away evil spirits. I took this photo out on our balcony earlier tonight. There have been spurts of fireworks going off just a block away down by the lighthouse on the bay from around 7 p.m. until after midnight, both last night on New Year's Eve and tonight. I generally don't get too excited about fireworks at home, mostly because I guess I find it a little boring to just sit on a blanket, swat mosquitoes and watch the sky for a half-hour show on the 4th of July. But here we have a fantastic view of the fireworks out our apartment windows. So I can sit at my desk, which is right in front of a huge window, and enjoy them while I'm working at my computer. They last for 10-20 seconds, there's a pause for a few minutes, then there's another burst...the evil spirits should be well-dispersed by the end of the night.
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