tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37649344892702015062011-04-21T16:16:37.847-07:00We're two 6th grade boys, Wes and Nik, interested in learning about various cultures. We speak Mandarin Chinese, like swimming (Wes), hockey (Nik), and attending school dances.2 culture detectiveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12741334262749702512noreply@blogger.comBlogger11100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3764934489270201506.post-88507283507696598602008-01-09T21:15:00.000-08:002008-01-24T11:10:42.535-08:00Hi there. We're two 6th grade boys named Wes and Nik, just getting into blogging. When deciding what to blog about, we thought we'd talk about something we have in common. That is, we are both learning Chinese, and we like to learn about different cultures. This first blog is about the Chinese New Year that's coming up on February 7, 2008.<br /><br />Wes: We just went with our moms on a recent trip to San Francisco's Chinatown. The purpose of the trip was to buy some home decorations for the upcoming Chinese New Year, which starts on February 7, 2008. This is the year 4706, and the year of the rat in the Chinese zodiac. Both Nik and I are rats. Some of the characteristics of rats are that we are natural leaders, we're charming, smart, and hard working, which all sound good to us (<a href="http://www.baobeidvd.citymax.com/cooking.html">Chinese Zodiac</a>). My puo puo, or maternal grandmother, says that it won't be a good year for me or other rats. When I asked for specifics, she couldn't give me any, and just asked me to "be careful." She also asked me to wear a red string around my wrist from New Year's Eve through the whole next year to "protect" me, and bring my good luck from this year into the next. I'm not sure I'm going to do that, and I think puo puo would be satisfied if I wore it for a couple of days.<br /><br />We bought the usual items such as red paper with good luck wishes printed on them , such as gong xi fa cai to tape onto our doors and windows. We also got some tangerines and plum tree branches for good luck. Most importantly, my mom bought some red envelopes! I hope she'll give me one with lotsa money! Oh yeah, my mom also had to buy my little sister a Chinese dress. You're suppose to wear a new outfit to bring in the new year.<br /><br />Nik: I love going to Chinatown! Sure, it has plenty of Chinese restaurants and interesting stores, but it also has a lot of souvenir and knick knack stores for tourists. I can always find something cool!<br /><br />We'll be coming back to Chinatown for the Chinese New Year's parade. It's not until February 23rd, and we'll blog about it. I love watching the dragon dance! At our school's Chinese New Year celebration each year, we have a lion dance too. I just love all the noise with the drums and cymbals! I think those guys carrying the lion head must be pretty strong.<br /><br />Aren't we going to your house for new year's eve for a big feast?<br /><br />Wes: Yup. In our next blog we can write about some traditional Chinese New Year foods.<div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3764934489270201506-8850728350769659860?l=myearlystart.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>2 culture detectiveshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12741334262749702512noreply@blogger.com0