Una Reunion Inolvidable

AN UNFORGETTABLE REUNION 

Family is more precious than you think 

Este post no tiene nada que ver con “Hispanic,” es mas sobre una experiencia que experimente durante Spring Break. Tratare de escribir lo que siento en las palabras mas honestas posibles.

For Spring Break, I went to China to visit my grandparents. It might sound something fun to do, but I actually I went to visit him because he is getting sicker and sicker. He has Alzheimer, which makes him forget about everything, including me. I knew that he had Alzheimer and I was mentally prepared to see him. Upon arriving to the China, I couldn't wait to see my family.

My Dad's hometown is Wenzhou

The ride from the airport to my dad’s hometown, where my grandfather is, consists of 45 minutes. For that 45 minutes ride, I couldn't stop talking about how well I’m doing; I was just euphemizing or sugar coating my situation. After all, I don't like it when my aunts ask me how well I’m doing in school and life. The ride felt short, in matter of time, I was at my oldest uncle’s house.

I carried my backpack with me while my uncle helped me move the bigger luggage out of the car. My third aunt opened the door for me and I was welcomed with a lot of noises. Everyone was at the house; they were all waiting for my arrival. While walking into the crowded living room, I asked, “where’s Yeye (Chinese for grandfather)?” He was just sitting there on the sofa. How did I miss him? I looked at him and shout out “Yeye.” He just looked at me and gave me no feedback. I tried again, “Yeye.” He said “aye.” Does he even know that I’m his granddaughter? Well, he did reply when I call him “Yeye.” So, maybe yes?

Immediately, my dad asked Yeye to see if he remembers me. He didn't even look at me; he just rolled his eyes at me and smiled. Well, I guess he doesn't remember me at all. I spent the rest of my Spring Break with him. Until day before I had to go back to Austin, he talked to me. It is not as if I never talk to him, but he just never reply me. I guess he feels that I’m a stranger at first so he doesn’t even want to look at me.

He was lying on the bed and rolling his eyes all over the room. I sat next to him and he asked me, did I

Me and My Yeye 

have dinner yet. I looked at him and told him that I just had dinner with my dad’s friends. He said “aye.” A long silence followed. I promptly asked him, if he had dinner yet and he said yes. I was trying really hard to have a conversation. After I asked him, he asked me again if I had dinner yet or not. I was shocked that he forgot what I said before. Unwilling to say that he asked that already, I said “yes.” He followed with more questions about “where did I eat,” “with who did I eat,” “what did I eat.”

When he was asking me all these questions, for a second, I feel that he remembered me. It is just like the old good days when he always questions me why am I always late to get home. I wonder if he remembers me as Jennifer or he is just asking me because I was there.

The next morning, I was leaving China. I looked at him and said that I was leaving. He asked, “where are you going?” I couldn't contain my tears and said, “I’m going home.” For one second I didn't remember that I was not actually going “home.” I am going back to Austin, to school. I corrected myself and said “I’m going to Texas, to school.” He said, “oh okay.”

I don't think he knows that he will not see me for a while after I depart. Everyone was helping with the luggage. I had nothing to carry with me, only my backpack. I ran back to my grandfather’s room to see that he was just rolling his eyes all over the room. I told him that I was leaving and that “I will be back soon.” He looked at me and said “be safe.”

Actually, I don't even know if I will see him again or not. I am not trying to be negative or pessimist, but knowing that your grandparents are getting older and older is not pleasant. I want to remind y’all that it is very important to appreciate what you have now, specially your family members.

Even though going back to china is not considered a “party.” It is actually a way of “Celebrando la Vida.” A simple reunion with the one you love is already a great celebration. I would like to conclude this post with a phrase about family,

You don't choose your family. 

They are God’s gift to you, as you are to them

Here, I will attach some videos about how much we should appreciate our parents. Don’t look for them only when you need them, love them

CARNAVAL

CARNIVAL

- Alegría - Colores - Desfile -

There is a saying “We want to be in a relationship in Valentine’s, but want to be single for Carnivals.” Today, we are going to talk about carnivals, not the Carnival Cruise but the authentic carnival!

Carnival roots back to the ancient Egypt. The Spanish brought “carnival” to South America! And now, South America rocks on having the best carnivals!

Rio Jainero

Panama

Argentina

Peru

These pictures show so much fun, joy, fun, culture and meaning! In Central America, carnival was originally a festival celebrated by the Catholics, who lent (fasting and abstinence) six weeks before Easter. In order to lent, they have to consume all the good food and drinks. To do so, the entire community throw a huge party, Carnival. 

Carnival used to be a religious party, one that did not involved much "God." Today, we celebrate carnival not because of religious but because of culture. Many might not even know the reason we have carnival. We just know that it is a week of fun, costumes, parades and more fun! Special shout out to my mother land, Panama for having the world's second best carnivals! But since I'm here in the Austin now, I will have to go call it "Mardi Gras." Carnival this year is going to start on Friday, February 28, 2014 and end on Tuesday, March 4! Those dates fall in Spring break for some schools. 

If you want to celebrate carnival but don't want to travel, you should invite some of your friends over to celebrate it! You don't need to celebrate it for five days!

Step 1 - Date

Let's start by setting a date. Saturday, March 1 would be my top choice. I will have all day in the morning to prepare the food and can wake up really late tomorrow. It is always wise to pick a date that most of your friends or at least the people you really want to be there are free. 

Step 2 - Venue

Where do I want the party to be? What time? What would it be? I will pick my home! I'm planning to serve dinner and then have some fun together! 

Step 3 - People

List the people you want to invite! Knowing how big your place is, you can't invite all your friends! The more, the merrier but having some moving space is always better! 

Step 4 - Budget

Parties are expensive! Sometimes you get too carried away and end up spending more than planned. You should set your budget and determine how much you want to spend for this dinner! I would spend 150 for my friends. P.S. I'm just a college kid, lol Obviously, a normal person might spend more. 

Step 4 - Invitations

Nowadays, people invite friends to their parties via Facebook. I love the traditional physical invitations more! I enjoy making the invitations. I will spend 15 dollars for all the invitations here. 

Step 5 - Food

Preparing the food is very tricky and usually the most important and stressful thing for a dinner. You will want the best food but at the same time don't want to spend too much! We are celebrating Carnival, so we might want to serve some Hispanic dishes! Remember that carnival is about "eating up all the food." 

With a limited budget, I decided to make empanada de boroña con tres carnes, sopa de pollo, pure de papas, parillada de carnes y chorizos, orejas de faile and filloas

Empanada de Boroña

Sopa de Pollo

Parillada de Carne

Orejas de Faile

Filloas

Here, I have attached the links for the recipes.
Food
Soup
Desserts

Step 6 - Drinks

You can have some soda, juices, wine or champagne for adults. But you should always have a signature drink, whether with alcohol or not. To make it very Hispanic, you can have a table of Corona Beer with lemon. Make it beautiful! To make it very carnival, you should have some colorful drinks like strawberry, orange and grape sodas for the kids. 

Step 7 - Decorations

Make it fun! Carnival is about being colorful and loud! To match our colorful Jarritos soda, we should decorate our house colorfully! Mardi Gras is more into purple, green and gold, but carnival in Central America is about all the colors.
I will give each guest some bead neckless (Where to get them)
Use orange dinner plates (Where to get them) yellow cups (Where to get them) purple napkins (Where to get them) green utensils (Where to get them) blue dessert plates (Where to get them) red soup bowls (Where to get them)

Step 8 - Music

Select your favorite songs! Remember that there's always some friendship "theme" song that you can not miss playing! Here is a song named "Carnaval" (In Spanish we say canAval, not carnIval)

Step 9 - Entertainment

Have some boardgames ready with you! If you don't want to play, you can always chill and talk!

Step 10 - Enjoy

The most important part of a party is to enjoy it! You organized it not for others to enjoy only, it is for you too!

Al ruido del tamboril, carnaval, carnavalera, me dijo que era feliz. Por eso con su canción, carnaval, carnavalera, se agranda mi corazón.

-Homero Manzi

DÍA DEL AMOR Y LA AMISTAD

VALENTINE'S DAY

Let's celebrate it in the Jennifer's way! Find a date, don't be "single" 

"Happy Love and Friendship Day"

It is February! Everyone is preparing for Valentine’s Day, but what about the singles? Like me! Well, in Spanish we don’t only call it “Día San Valentin” but also “Día del Amor y la Amsitad.” February 14 is a day to be spent with your loved ones. For us, love is not only for lovers but also for friends. We love our friends and appreciate everyone who is around us. 

If you want to celebrate Valentine’s Day in a Latino way, you will first need to know that “February 14” is not a valentine’s day for all everyone. 

Sofia Vergara with the Colombian Flag

In Colombia, “El Día de Amor y Amistad” is celebrated on the third Saturday of September. For Colombians, it is not the day of chocolates and flowers only. It is the day to show affection to the ones you care the most. Even though Colombians celebrate it on a unique day, Colombians had a reason for celebrating it that day.

Why do we celebrate Valentine’s Day? Why is it called “Valentines” on the first place?

During the Roman Empire, Emperor Claudio II prohibited any soldier from marrying because he believed that warriors in love are not callous to kill the enemies. In that no-love time, a priest, San Valentin believed in true love and decided to marry the soldiers. Unfortunately, the Emperor beheaded the brave priest on February 14. 

Why do Colombians celebrate it on a different day?

Colombians changed the Valentines Day date in 1969 because they believe that February is a month for school and that in September there are no festivals. Therefore, they decided to move “Dia del Amor y la Amistad” to September. This year, 2014, Valentine’s Day is going to be on Sunday, September 21.

What do Colombians do in El Día del Amor y la Amistad?

There is a game called “Amigo Secreto,” Secret Friend. The game consists of bringing a group of friends together and in a container write the names of everyone who wants to participate. Once you draw out a name, you are uncharged to give this person sweets, flowers and lovely letters for the entire month. Make sure that your friend doesn't know that you are the one giving him/her gifts.

More exciting to know, Brazil celebrates Carnivals right after February 14. Carnivals are usually celebrated in late February or early March. Because February 14 is too close to Carnivals, Brazilians decided to celebrate “Día Dos Namorados” or Lover’s Day on June 12. Brazilian lovers usually have marriage proposals on this day.

Since I am living in the United States of America, I decided to celebrate this Valentine’s with one of my roommates. Well, she is not single but her boyfriend is in Los Angeles. So, we decided to have a dinner date and give each other presents. If you are asking what I am planning to give her, I was planning on giving her a encouraging letter and some sweets. But a week ago when I was at the Dollar Tree store, I found a Design your own tumbler. Here is a link in case you want to buy one! 

I would like to conclude this post with a Bible verse about love,

El amor es paciente, es bondadoso. El amor no es envidioso ni jactancioso ni orgulloso. No se comporta con rudeza, no es egoísta, no se enoja fácilmente, no guarda rencor. El amor no se deleita en la maldad sino que se regocija con la verdad. Todo lo disculpa, todo lo cree, todo lo espera, todo lo soporta.

- 1 Corintios 13:4-7