Learning from the Locals

We’ve been enjoying some fun cultural experiences the last couple weeks. It has been a joy and honor to better understand this culture and enter into the Lunar New Year festivities. 

My neighbor Connie has been taking a Thai cooking class so she taught me how to make green chicken curry (my favorite!!), satay (Jason’s favorite) and Tum Yum soup (even Annette will eat it and it is spicy!). It was so delicious although it took about 4 hours of prepare, so I may have to stick with buying curry paste (: Annette especially enjoyed her Thai cooking lesson. 

Then our neighbor Daisy taught us how to make a beautiful lantern out of traditional red envelopes. 

Our landlord has been storing these New Years orange trees (that will soon sell) around the perimeter of our house. We’ve been enjoying the great backdrop they make for photos. 

Another neighbor Pauline gave us several Chinese paper cuttings she made all by hand , like this.

And on Friday we went to a neighborhood traditional hot pot party. We tried several new foods, but mostly just enjoyed the company and experience. And Annabelle decided that she now likes rice (good thing!)

The kids just have three days of school this week and then they have a 10 day holiday. We are looking forward to a visit from Jason’s parents. It really is a happy, fun time of year- so long as you don’t have to go to the grocery store (but that is a whole other blog!)