中秋節快樂

 Happy Moon Festival!

 

中秋節快樂 !

 

[Zhongqiu jie kuaile!]

Today was moon festival. I appreciate the Chinese appreciation for the moon. We need to be more on par with them. Here's a holiday we'll have to add to our future celebrations in life :)

 



It's a time for gift-giving, especially from the high hierarchy downwards. Employers typically give gifts to employees--a nice box of expensive moon cakes or even a cash bonus. Ben received this nice box of different kids of traditional desserts (not sure if all are qualified as "moon cakes")  I really liked about a third of them and really didn't like another third.

Lucky for us, we were in the kids' play place this afternoon and a child-informant told us about the party in the apartment at 6pm with lots of food.  Crazy what we manage to not know! With the help of a friend's translation, I found out we had not needed to make a reservation and that it was free :)  Yet another example of a generous offering--in this case from big apartment owner to small renter-lings So I sent Ben a message (he being at work, if you remember my previous complaint) and asked that he try to be home for this event. 

 
 Our entire lobby had been decked out in pink silk chair and table linens and there was live music. Food buffets lined a long hallway.  We were a bit late to arrive to the party so we didn't see any tables open still.  It seemed like tenants were able to bring family members...or maybe not; it's possible that they just all lived here together. We had our suspicions confirmed that no other white, non-Asian foreigners live in our apartment complex (unless they didn't stick around for the weekend). Our presence had its usual effect on people: a head-turning curiosity with smiles for the kids. Both Ben and I had brought name cards with us hoping to make some new acquaintances, but it turned out to be a bit more intimate gathering party with families/friends kind of keeping to themselves at their tables.  Too bad.  We did run into my one (and only) friend at our apartment: Lili from Korea. She took it upon herself to make sure we found a sofa to sit on and plates to use. Later in the evening we ended up sitting with them. I have more photos on my phone but it's uploading the new IOS and can't be bothered right now :)  There are some fireworks outside right now that I can see and hear, but it's time to turn in. Ben wants to ride his bike early tomorrow morning. Sighh. I just  don't know what possesses the man!