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"My Unusual CNY" by Candy Kim

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The time of celebration and renewal came--Chinese New Year. Enlightened spirits of families filled the town with the help of the beautifully crafted traditional lanterns ornating the place. The decoration reminded me of the festivity.

Despite such derived enthusiasm, there was no significant change in my routines. Due to the fate of being a senior who had only a couple of weeks for university applications and more AP studies, I had no other choice but to spend most of my time tutoring for my allowance, and finishing my tasks that were expected to be done with no fault. However, wanting to grasp the CNY spirit at the same time, I decided to spend my short break in a cafe to complete my tasks. Merry chatterngs and gatherings occupied the space and it was an ideal environment for a person like me who thrived in finishing tasks with a background noise. Therefore, the commotion in the cafe was a perfectly fine environment for me, and in fact, a more preferable place than a dead-silent place like a library.

Every time my eyes were tired out from the constant stares on my laptop screen, I could just lift my head up and take a look around. Families gathered to share their missed-out news, other families were laying out their board games, and I spotted couples who had dressed themselves in bright crimson. This view satisfied my unsettled desire to spend my Chinese New Year without other worries like college as I was indirectly experiencing the festivity.

Not long after, the cafe workers, all dressed in their traditional clothing, came about to each of the tables in the place to offer a small portion of the traditional Chinese dish that was eaten during CNY. The heartwarming offer and their attempt to share the joy made me feel content once again.

Human interaction and the warmth shared from those communities was the best CNY gift I didn’t expect. Despite the fact that I was stuck for hours in my college application and my other studies, I bet this was the most memorable Chinese New Year I had.

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