Good fortune and rats

In less than a week, ethnic Chinese all over the world would be celebrating Chinese New Year (aka Lunar New Year) and this time we would be ushering in the year of the rat. The rat is the first animal on the Chinese zodiac calendar (there are 12 of them). As with any other new year, the Chinese want to believe that much good luck and fortune await them.
We are not sure about good luck or golden fortune, but we do know that with the celebration at hand, we will finally get to go home to my parents' to see them. It's been a year since we last saw them! Shame on me!

This visit will also mean feasting, feasting and more feasting! It will start with the reunion dinner where everyone in the family gets together for a lavish meal. The American equivalent is the Thanksgiving dinner. This occasion is especially meaningful for families who have members from out of town and have traveled home for the New Year festivities.

Unlike previous years, this time we will spend a whole week with my parents and we would arrive a few days before the first day of Chinese New Year (traditionally, the celebration lasts a whole month!). We're truly looking forward to it and be sure to check back here for pixs from our visit!

p.s. Some of you have enquired about our housing situation...well, we are still looking. Hopefully after the new year celebration, the market will soften a little and we'll find something suitable.