For children, Chinese New Year means receiving money in red envelopes. All I had to utter was “Gung Hay Fat Choy” and the elders would gladly hand one over. I used to collect many on the first day when my family and I visited our relatives, and felt rich and happy.
On our way to the airport this morning I said Happy New Year to the shuttle driver, who was Chinese. He corrected me that the New Year was not today (Sunday) but tomorrow. We conversed in Cantonese, reminiscing about the festivities, the food, and the excitement that led to the first day.
“It’s different here,” he sighed. “People don’t celebrate so much.”
When we arrived at the terminal I handed him a red envelope.
“Thank you,” he laughed, waving it in the air, “my first one!”
