We have a little tradition in my homeland to perform specifically on January 7th that dates back over one-thousand years: to eat rice porridge with seven vegetables that spring out even in the coldest of weather in the hopes that their strength to overcome tough times will rub off on us. Meet the Mighty… Continue reading Mighty Munchy Veggie Rangers: The Meal
When you are learning to take on a new role, I find it critical to have someone to consult. Maybe you have dreamed it long enough, but you are full of anticipation, both good and bad, and need someone who can calm you down. Maybe you have prepared well enough, but still want someone… Continue reading What would have been the February 23, 2017 post: The shoes to fill
I am referring to these little wood carvings: They are bullfinches, and they are said to be messengers of the God of Academia in my homeland. (There are several stories telling how they became messengers – the one told at the shrine nearby my place says it is because its name written in… Continue reading Truth be told, they’re bald-faced “lies”
In many of the Asian cultures, New Year is a very special time and the festivities usually last for a fortnight. Although many still celebrate it according to the Chinese calendar, mine has adapted it to the Gregorian calendar and the festivities have been toned down and/or abbreviated. Nevertheless, we do still see bits and… Continue reading Sending wishes for a bountiful year!
When I first learned the French espression “à chacun son gout,” I had difficulty understanding what it meant. Even when I was told its English translation “to each his own,” I could not grasp the concept of everyone being entitled to his / her personal preferences. I had just moved abroad from my homeland for… Continue reading À chacun son goût
We have a tradition on New Year’s Day to give special allowances to children in my homeland. When I was a child myself, I did not understand (nor did I care to understand) the meaning of this tradition – I just loved accepting extra income from the first day of the year! But as… Continue reading Sending holy hand-me-downs!
Some days, I am devastated to find rifts between cultures that seem so difficult to fill. It is very disturbing (even deplorable, sometimes) to see actions stemming from a lack of respect and empathy for those who hold different values and beliefs than oneself. We live in a highly globalized world these days and… Continue reading Awaiting the return of the sun
Back in mid-July, I mentioned a very thoughtful tradition in my culture called “midsummer gifts,” to be sent to those who are dear to you to show that you care how they are doing during the hottest time of the year. Well, we have a similar gift-sending tradition during the coldest time of the year… Continue reading Sending ordinary things made a little special!
Today is called the “Beginning” in my culture. Traditionally, it is set to be the day to begin preparing for the new year festivities. In the olden days, it was the day to dust off and cleanse away the impurities that have piled up over the past year, and go into the woods to… Continue reading Where to begin
We woke up to a wonderful news yesterday morning in my homeland, when we found out that one of our traditions was added to the Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) of UNESCO – a group of major festivals held throughout our nation with the common feature of large floats being pulled around the streets. (I… Continue reading Greater than the sum of its parts
Water flowing, flower floating 