I am a bit confused over this new status of being a missus, particularly during festive seasons like the Chinese New Year. Our family had always been fiercely private about family gatherings. Family means family only. Not that we are unfriendly, okay probably to outsiders it seems like it, but it is more like we're kinda shy people. I do not know what happened to me - I love hosting and cooking up a storm for close friends though. Okay CLOSE friends only - that ANTI-SOCIAL trait still lives somewhere in my blood. But actually it is more like I hate cleaning up after big social gatherings at our home.
Anyway, not having much experiences with parties and open houses and whatever during my growing up years, I have absolutely no idea how to deal with this giving of ang pows tradition (to people other than family) now that I am expected to. So I checked with my friend Ah Szen.
Me: Tomorow I go open house makan (eat)
Ah Szen: Tomorrow when you go open house must give ang pow already hehe
Me: Ya I give to the host's grandson
Ah Szen: Must bring extra for all the other children
Me: HAH?
Ah Szen: Of course la....you married already mah
Me: Even if they are strangers?
Ah Szen: Yah la...all kids
Me: But it is an open house leh. Any Ah Kiong, Muthu and Ali will walk in and makan. How do I give everyone? I don't even know them!
Ah Szen: I think must la.
Me: Sure or not...
Ah Szen: I think my mom used to give
Me: I thought to family and the host only
Ah Szen: Everyone la. You bao a small amount only
Me: Sure or not?
Anyway I ended up only giving to the host's grandson and the daughter of a colleague whom I know well. The rest weren't even chinese and I didn't see anyone else digging their pockets for red enveloped for them. So I went with the crowd.
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