Holiday Special Overseas Spring Festival’s Enlightment


Have you ever had the feeling when things


that you are born to possess gradually become out-of-sight even though they have special meaning to you? Have you ever felt the regret when things that you take for granted suddenly disappear and you cry for not having cherished them? When I was far away from my never-left home and country, when everything I was used to was no longer within my reach, those feelings and regrets began to attack me. I used to warmly embrace the Spring


Festival when I was a child, while somehow, it became routine and to some extent lost its meaning to me along with my growing up. However, when I was sitting in the red decorated Square One watching the special gala organised by Culturae Mundi, dedicated to our traditional Spring Festival, I was surrounded by various coloured faces, and was proud, deeply moved and surely, homesick. I was surprised to see our traditional


festival celebrated overseas; I was honored to be given an opportunity to share my experience living in China and Britain on stage with all foreign students; I was fortunate that I still got my dear friends to stay and shared the most emotional moment; I was


By Grace Jingya Liu


excited to watch our native gala broadcast on TV as the only bond linking me and my homeland under such a special occasion; I felt warmed to have a big dinner be prepared by my housemates with my favourite dumplings; I was misty-eyed to hear the voice of my long-time-no-see family and friends staring at the big clock waiting for the descending of the lunar new year… Above all, the most delightful and valuable thing, however, was the fact that, it was the first time I found a strong sense of belonging to my family, my culture and my country. Yes, it was when I left that I strongly sensed


the affability of my parents’ smiley faces and wordy chatter; started missing all the care-free moments playing fireworks with my siblings; dug out the big interest in making paper-cut and sticking it to the doors with laughter flying around; became aware what I was endowed by my country has far transcended my homestead… When all ‘invisible’ love came to the surface I felt lucky that I still enjoy chances to cherish them. Thanks to the four months living abroad,


I felt enlightened and could reflect upon those moments I should have treasured and began embracing things that are waiting for my appreciation and gratefulness. Confucius said: ‘Tree prefers calm while wind doesn’t subside; Son chooses filial while parents died.’ Don’t wait until those tiny and air-like things disappear with the wind to realise how careless you were when they were still around. Let me present you a picture with a young


lady sitting on the couch, holding her grandma’s hand, watching Spring Festival Gala on TV and smiling at a roomful of happy and charming faces. Time: 8pm, lunar 30th December 2013.


Page 9


Asia Exposure, Issue 3


Images courtesy of Culturae Mundi


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