This year I'm giving Mum money in a red pocket for Chinese New Year. See above. It's my first time doing it. You're actually supposed to start doing it the year you start working, but I haven't cause I guess Mum thought it wasn't a big deal. This year, though, I'm home for CNY and Mum says it's tradition and I should do it because everyone else does it (compelling argument). The one above is from the supermarket. They give out freebie packets for CNY. They're usually super cute.
The only problem is I don't have any fresh New Taiwan Dollar bills to put inside. All of mine are old and you can't give old money in a red pocket, Mum says. Apparently everyone is lining up at the banks before CNY to swap their ratty bills for new ones. I didn't know that. And now it's too late so I have to borrow some new bills from Mum to put into a red pocket and then give it back to her. That's so messed up. I don't feel Chinese enough today.
(Everyone is also supposed to wear something new, and something red for CNY. And if you're playing mahjong, then you gotta wear new red underpants. Now you know.)
Happy Chinese New Year!
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