Vignette
My family celebrates every Chinese New Year, it doesn't matter how far away my relatives or family friends are they will travel to gather. Chinese New Year has always been the best time of the year. It is the time of the year when I get red envelopes, when I get to eat as much as I want without feeling guilty, and it is when I feel the closest to my family. It's basically the Chinese Christmas.
This year's New Year started off no different from any other year. My Grandparents arrived first, just like every year they travelled by train, and came into the house with two of the same worn out luggage. One is bright red, with yellow lines across the center, making it look really similar to the Chinese flag, and it belongs to my Grandma. The other one is more subtle, just like my Grandpa's personality, gray filled the front of the bag, and the back being a bit darker with coffee stain.
I being the oldest had to bring tea to greet my grandparents to show respect. I remember doing this every year for as long as I could remember. After making Pu-er tea that my grandparents deeply desire the fun starts. I have always prepared dinner with my grandparents not because I was forced to but rather because I enjoyed it.
She asked me what I wanted make in Chinese, I didn't quite understand what she said the first time, I remember being able to speak fluent Chinese with my Grandparents, but not anymore. Chinese feels foreign. Then with the help of my mother's translation we we're able to successfully prepare for dinner.
People soon started to come in, some I know and some I don't, they came in one by one...