Tomb Sweeping and such...

The Chinese are extremely superstitious. I am constantly berating my adult students trying to get as much information on traditions as possible. It’s interesting to learn the history as to why they do so many things, and it is also quite entertaining. Tomorrow is a national holiday called Tomb Sweeping day. Yup, pretty much; Spring-cleaning for their cemeteries. 

I think a lot of my students forget that I’m not Chinese. And although I did grow up in Irvine, there is still a lot about the culture that I don’t know. When I inquire about their culture they give me a sliver of the Cliffs Notes. I often have to remind them that what they are telling me is brand new information to me and not common in the U.S. In one of my earlier classes today I asked my students what Tomb Sweeping day was all about and they didn’t really say much. Most of them were just excited they didn’t have work. But the main gist of the holiday is to pay respect to ancestors. In my last class I had a group of very talkative girls. I love when my students do all the talking for me! Especially when I have three canker sores on my tongue! Yes, that’s what I get for eating three pineapples in three days. It’s just so hard to resist when a pineapple is a dollar and they skin it and slice it for you on the street.

Anyways, the girls were really chatty and told me all about this holiday and the customs that go along with it.  Many families return to their hometown and visit the graves of their loved ones. They cut the grass and place flowers on the tomb. They can also give gifts to their loved ones on the other side. You just burn a picture of what you want to give to them and they will receive it in a matter of minutes. The examples I was given: “you can burn a photo of a refrigerator, phone, television, games, house, anything you want.” I think this is hilarious and darling. Why they’d need a refrigerator? Not sure. Another custom I thought was lovely was cooking a meal for the departed. Families will cook something special for their ancestors and leave it outside with a candle. In a few hours you can retrieve the food and eat it yourself. I guess it’s rare that grandma or grandma are that hungry and eat the food, probably because they were given a refrigerator earlier in the day… One of my students said her grandfather told the family to give him an  iPhone when he dies (you know, burn a picture of an iPhone on his grave). Somebody in the family questioned him “do you even know how to work an iPhone?” he replied “No” but figured he’d have Steve Jobs help him out.

I guess it’s not that bizarre though, I wanted to take my grandma a bottle of two-buck chuck and dump it in the ocean with her ashes… The Chinese do have a lot of respect for their elders, which is quite lovely to see. So, if you don’t have much to do tomorrow, light a candle for a family member that has passed in honor of Tomb Sweeping day. I will celebrate the holiday in Shanghai with my friend Mecah. It is so wonderful to have such a dear friend so close! I sure did take it for granted when I lived in the states.

Next week I will be moving into a new apartment! I am beyond excited. As I have probably mentioned before, the area of town I live in is wonderful and has many great qualities. Unfortunately none of my friends live in this area. Think of it in an LA scale. All my friends are in Venice and I’m in East Hollywood. Technically it isn’t that far, but with traffic (and traffic in China is worse than LA) and all it just isn’t convenient. It’s not worth the cab fare to go to a friends for dinner or to watch a movie. One of my best friends roommates moved back to the states last month, so I am moving in! I’m breaking my lease at my current apartment, which is unfortunate, but it will be so worth it to live with and be near to my friends. I am so excited! Living on this side of town has been a bit lonely at times.  The West is also cheaper and quieter! I often sleep with earplugs here. Margaret (on the right) will be my new roommate and Liz my close neighbor, we biked to the botanical garden last week. Huge garden full of tulips. The tulips are only in bloom for a month here. 

I just hope I will live to see next week. I’ve recently started riding my bike to work. The weather is shifting and it is glorious. I never knew how miserable being cold was until I moved here. The warmth makes all the difference. And I absolutely love riding my bike. I’m just a little concerned that I am going to get hit by a car. The roads are a brutal place here. Every man for himself. I think I’m counteracting the exercise endorphin rush with road rage. Luckily my brother taught me to “always keep my head on a swivel.” I’m not sure if that was advice he gave me on our three-month biking excursion in Europe, or just general advice. I try and use it in all contexts just in case.

My friends have a cat named Bo. He's famous on a website called 'Hitler Kitties'. He's nothing like Adolf though... he's quite sweet. Not that I know what Adolf was like first hand, but I have my assumptions.