Happy Lunar New Year

I don’t really like the Chinese New Year itself – I like the preparation leading up to CNY.

I started spring-cleaning in January. OK I confess – I hired part time maid to do the more difficult things like cleaning the windows and the grilles, the lights, etc. But I started throwing out stuff then – it’s like a “bidding farewell” kind of gesture that I need to do at least once a year (Symbolic #1). I donated / recycled old clothes, old magazines, old everything.

Then two weeks ago, after our new sofa was delivered (the old one was “dismantled” by Bingo our dog), I put up CNY decorations, those red stuff for good luck (Symbolic #2). Last week, we bought Mandarin oranges, and pussy willows. I also bought some of the things I need to prepare a family dinner we will be hosting on the 3rd day of CNY – prawns (in Cantonese the name prawn sounds like “laughing” – Symbolic #3), sea cucumber (sounds like “rising” – Symbolic #4), fish maw, etc etc etc.

Yesterday I changed bedsheet. And you will see me doing laundry after we come back from reunion dinner at parents’ place because I believe that you shouldn’t leave dirty laundry over night / over the year – carrying bad luck over to the new year (Symbolic #5).

Then of course we have to prepare Hong Baos – that’s for the younger generations so that they do well in the next year (Symbolic #6).

It’s tiring, but I enjoy it. I love the idea of having a sparkling clean house with new and freshly smelled bedsheet and red decorations to usher in a new year. (Symbolic #7)

Oh did I mention that Chinese New Year is a highly symbolic occasion?

Happy Lunar New Year.

Decisions, decisions...

JAE has always been a difficult period: difficult for us as lecturers (because must do course advising), difficult for students (for the undesired results and for not knowing which course to choose), and certainly difficult for parents.

Students who are very sure of what they want to do, but can’t decide between two institutions.
Students who are not sure what they want to do, so they “shop” for courses.
Students who not eligible.
Students who are too eligible.

And of course parents, and parents, and parents.

Decision-making has never been easy. Especially when it comes to a decision that would eventually affect your future (or at least 3 full years of your life).

I seldom make quick decision – not even when I go shopping. I would look at a piece of blouse, think about whether the colour suits me, fits into my wardrobe, needs ironing, needs to be hand-washed, affordable, then whether I REALLY like it or not. But that’s another story.

We often make our decisions based on two factors: informational influence and normative influences. I don’t know how many students, at this age, would really find out as much information as possible – I mean, what else can you ask other than the course structure, what you are going to study…? A lot of things, you need to experience it. Many a times, however, students make their decisions based on normative influence – I want to be with my friends, and I want to be in this “seems to be quite glamorous” course.

I have to admit that my choices were never really informed. I mean, I tried to find out about a company before I took on the offer, or tried to read up as much as I could on the course. But the reality is that we often take a risk because we will never be able to foresee certain things in life (only if I could. Sigh).

Life is always full of uncertainty. And we have to live it.