A Different Lunar New Year

I would never consider myself someone who adopted my ethnic culture. In fact, amongst my Asian friends, I probably was the most "white-washed" per say. But one of the most Asian traditions I've kept is celebrating Chinese New Year (probably because of the money but that's not the point).

My first year away from home meant not celebrating with my family... actually, not celebrating with anyone at all, since I seem to be the only Chinese person I'm close to. :P I discovered that I miss a lot of the things I used to do before moving away:

1. Helping my mother make radish cake. <- sounds disgusting but it's sooooo good. Plus, it's not a conventional cake per say. It's more like a paste.
2. BEING THERE IN PERSON TO COLLECT MY MONEY! Instead I was sent one envelope from my mother.
3. Playing Mahjong with the fambam.
4. Eating the greatest food and candy on the face of the earth.
5. The decorations and festivities that don't seem to exist here...