It’s the start of Spring Festival here in China, a week-long holiday period that celebrates the lunar new year. It seems like Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s all rolled into one.
The streets of Yuxi were very busy this morning at 7:30 and were absolutely jammed this evening at 8:30. There are long lines of people at the checkout counters of grocery stores and other retail outlets. Fruitsellers have stacked boxes of produce so high along the sidewalks that the effect is like walking through a canyon. Firecrackers go off at random times and places. Everyone seems to be in a good mood as they make preparations to spend time with family and friends. Millions of people are traveling; this is the largest annual migration of homo sapiens on the planet.
I taught my students at Shane English Yuxi how to say “Happy Spring Festival!” today. Some of the younger ones got confused and wished me “Happy Spring Hospital” and “Happy Spring Vegetable.” I kind of liked that. My last class let out at 5:40 and I now have an eleven day vacation before me
Unfortunately, I’ll miss the Chinese celebration of the holiday. Bangladesh beckons. So Happy Spring Vegetable, one and all!
Hi
I have enjoyed reading your blog. I taught in Yuxi No1 Middle School and the Minorities School in Eshan in 2003-04. Every now and then I Google Yuxi and your blog came up.
Many happy memories and I am glad that you are having a great time!
What people do in spring festival there? Is it a 1 week gov. holiday during the festival?
Yes. It is THE major holiday of the Chinese calendar. Most people get a week off. The train stations, bus stations, airports and highways are jammed with people going to visit their parents or grandparents.
With the uncommonly cold weather here in Texas (hello, it is 31 degrees and snowing outside. In south Texas – it’s sooo very wrong!!) I am snuggled up with dogs, cats and seed catalogs. Happy Spring Vegetable indeed! Have an adventure in Bangladesh, Jim. Looking forward to reading of it!