christmas

The only way I can describe Christmas in China is "between two worlds". China is officially an atheist country thus Christmas isn't a holiday. Schools are in, post offices are open, stores are open, etc. Christmas is not a holiday. In reality if it weren't for the years upon years of western influence Christmas wouldn't exist in China. Christmas, however, does exist in China.

Vacationing in Florida for Christmas has a lot of perks. The best one of all is the ability to swim outside on Christmas day! This is a short 5 second video showing of Diana and I swimming on Christmas day.

This year I wasn’t able to spend Christmas with my family; plane tickets were just a bit too expensive. Thank-fully Diana invited to spend Christmas with her family… aawww isn’t she sweet? 

Christmas in Boston. 

We jumped on the Fung Wah bus to Boston around 10am on Christmas Eve. Not wanting to lug a ton of gifts to Boston and then back down to New York Diana and I exchanged presents on Friday night. Our luggage was light and consisted of only a messenger bag and a single small roly-poly suitcase. 

Once in Boston we primarily stuck around her parent’s place and met various different people of her family. Just like last time I spent most of the night looking like a deer caught in the headlights. I really need to learn Cantonese. Every now and again I would hear my name; which immediately made me nudge Diana for a quick translation. Usually the translations weren’t too exciting; something like “Is Jacob Jewish”? 

No… Just because I’m white with blondish/brownish hair and I live on the east coast doesn’t make me Jewish. Really. 

Anyhow back to Christmas. It was great. On Christmas day we did not open gifts. Instead in the morning Diana and I went to the movies, avoiding all the crowds, and watched “The Family Stone”… ehh.. not the greatest movie, but it had its high points. 

Christmas dinner, however, was great. It consisted of several different types of thinly sliced raw meats, fish, vegetables, and noodles. In the middle of the table was a boiling pot of seasoned broth over an open flame. All food was cooked fresh in the boiling pot of water piece by piece by grabbing it with your chopsticks and dipping it in the boiling broth for a few seconds. 

Oooohhh.. so good. 

Oh by the way, apparently I am a master with chopsticks. Ooorrr Diana, her family and friends have never seen someone as white as me work the “sticks” so well ;) he he…

That’s all for me. I hope your Christmas’ were merry and bright.