A New Year Homecoming
February 12, 2010
The annual tradition of Lunar New Year homecoming for all the women here at the Good Samaritan Center gives a glimpse of a what could be what Jesus envisioned about a party. I was reminded of what He said, “when you give a feast invite those who are found in the streets ---the lame, the blind, the handicapped, the lepers …and so forth.”
In front of the center is a little garden, greeting everyone is a profusion of colors from the blooming flowers as if alerting us of the new spring, and of the hope that lies in the new year of the Tiger! As soon as we opened the doors, some of the women came in early, bright and chirpy like our pet birds! We quickly set up the tables outside, arranged the chairs, put the ‘hor d’oeurves’ (consist of pumpkin and sunflower seeds, mix nuts and rice cookies) and hot tea and juice drinks on the tables. The women came in their best, even if their best is a dirty looking sweater. As soon as they found their spot in one of the chairs, the party began for each of them. Chatting and eating away. Towards half of the morning, we could not hear each other because of the loud voice that is trying to outdo each other telling their adventures and plans for the holidays. Yet, some, seemed comfy in their little corner avoid conversations. Still, everybody is polite and happy to greet each other a greeting for the new year.
Some of our residents were busy helping prepare the food upstairs. One by one, the trays of vegetables and other ingredients for the ‘huo-guo’(hotpot – a mixture of everything in a boiling soup) are being brought down to the buffet table. Then more women came, including two former residents now living in a rehab center picked up by our social workers. A huge van parked in front of the center bringing three more former clients who now live in a supervised living facilities came. One came being pushed in a wheelchair by one of our volunteers. One woman came in drunk and looking pretty dirty, so we asked her to clean up and shower to feel better.
We started with the activities, beginning with Chinese calligraphy contest. All the women were asked to write ‘New Year blessings’ on red rolls of paper to make ‘chun lien’, or spring door greetings. One of the women amazed us as she sat down, poised like a skilled calligrapher and started to write a classical greeting. She was so focused writing as if she were another person. We all remarked how good she was. After she finished, she told me with pride in her eyes, “Sister, people took me as stupid (but I am not)!” She won the contest. Then, our Korean volunteer brought two Korean dresses for the women to try on. This was a hit! Everyone wanted to try it and take a picture. It was a lot of fun and gave the women a sense of beauty. Just before we finished setting the long table, we invited everyone to a prayer honoring the ancestors. It is a Chinese New Year tradition that is delegated to only the oldest males in the family. We changed it a little bit, so that all the women will have chance to bow in reverence and thanksgiving to God and their ancestors. Each woman offered incense and we all bowed down in front of the Cross and the altar with our surnames written on it and we finished off with a prayer holding our hands in a circle.
We started with the activities, beginning with Chinese calligraphy contest. All the women were asked to write ‘New Year blessings’ on red rolls of paper to make ‘chun lien’, or spring door greetings. One of the women amazed us as she sat down, poised like a skilled calligrapher and started to write a classical greeting. She was so focused writing as if she were another person. We all remarked how good she was. After she finished, she told me with pride in her eyes, “Sister, people took me as stupid (but I am not)!” She won the contest. Then, our Korean volunteer brought two Korean dresses for the women to try on. This was a hit! Everyone wanted to try it and take a picture. It was a lot of fun and gave the women a sense of beauty. Just before we finished setting the long table, we invited everyone to a prayer honoring the ancestors. It is a Chinese New Year tradition that is delegated to only the oldest males in the family. We changed it a little bit, so that all the women will have chance to bow in reverence and thanksgiving to God and their ancestors. Each woman offered incense and we all bowed down in front of the Cross and the altar with our surnames written on it and we finished off with a prayer holding our hands in a circle.
And so the table feast begins! Everyone enjoyed the tastes and smell of the parade of food freshly prepared and cooked upstairs in our kitchen.
After everyone quieted down with bellies full, we asked everyone to sing a lively traditional New Year song to greet each other. We could feel the excitement in the air, as we asked everyone to sit down and we will give the red envelopes. They all shouted happy New Year and clapped. Then we sang again and again. Everyone helped cleaned up. We said goodbye as we greeted each other once again.
