Being a BBC, there are things which I have experienced that I would like to take a moment and share with you. If you’re a BBC you will TOTALLY get where I’m coming from and if you’re not…well they do say: Everyday is a school day!
Lai See
I ALWAYS look forward to Chinese New Year or my birthday and this is why:
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That’s right ladies and gentlemen, keeeeeeeeerching! Red envelope aka lai see is only handed it out on special occations and the envelope is normally in red and gold writing symbolising good luck and prosperity. If you want to know more about this awesome tradition, click here.
Everytime my mother comes back from Hong Kong after Chinese New Year there’s ALWAYS a stack of lai see for my sisters and myself. Unfortunately for my older sister, she recently got married so she doesn’t get them anymore mwuahahahahaha! It’s tradition that married couple hand out lai see to single people- perhaps I should be single for the rest of my life?!?! Anyway back to what I was saying, my mother will hand out one lai see at a time to tell us who gave it to us. I mean how does she even know who gave what??! To me, all lai see looks pretty much the same! What’s more, she’ll say, ‘This is from Uncle A, this is from Aunty B, this is from a family friend…’ As she goes on, I’m thinking I have NO idea who they are but thanks for the lai see! In Chinese culture, we literally call EVERYONE aunty and uncle out of respect.
Over the years I’ve been collecting lai see as I haven’t been back to Hong Kong and this year I decided I’ll be a good daughter and endure my duties of visiting relatives over there. I have racked up an astonishing £500 of free money. First and foremost, I wanted to treat my incredible nan to dinner.
Judging by the look on my nan’s face, she was very pleased and grateful of my gesture. Would you believe she is 90 years old, yes you read that right, 90!!!
She’s incredible because she’s a strong, healthy independent woman who is full of life! She even flew (solo) all the way to the UK in order to attend my graduation in 2010! The least I could do is to visit her and treat her to dinner. I yet again digressed from the subject!!! So being a BBC has its perks!!!
There’ll be more to come…
One Voice One Opinion 
That’s so true!! There are so many perks of having a Chinese heritage, including those little red envelopes. I don’t know if it’s just our family but we only get lai see on Chinese New Year, never on our birthdays? The other occasion I look forward to each year is eating moon cakes during the Mid-Autumn Festival. I’d love to know your thoughts on how Chinese culture integrates with British culture! Keep blogging!
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When I was little I tended to get lai see from relatives but the older I get, the less I receive but I can always rely on my parents! Hmmm I’m not too keen on moon cakes. However I love my mum’s Tuen Ng (cantonses)- the sticky rice dumplings, nom nom!
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It seems to be the opposite with my family because my parents don’t usually give me much money (they’ll only give money to me if I need it for tickets etc.) but whenever we go back to Guangzhou my relatives are always so excited to see me so they give quite generously! Yeah I only like the sesame moon cakes with the yolks inside, they’re the best – but the sticky rice dumplings are incredible too!
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You often go back to China? I’m guessing you’re a fellow BBC? My mum makes delicious pineapple buns, nom nom.
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Sadly we don’t really go back that often, only once or twice every three years. Yeah I’m BBC too, my parents came over from China about 20 years ago… Mmm pineapple buns sound delish!!
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