10 Things I Like About Chinese New Year

1. Getting Angpaus - Lots of them! 
2. Getting Fat - CNY is the only time you can let yourself go and just gorge on everything on the table without feeling guilty about it. Heck, your uncles and aunties take it upon themselves the sacred duty of egging you on to have more of everything, thank you very much. So pile on the calories now, worry about getting them off after Chap Goh Meh... maybe.
3. History Lessons - I never get bored of listening to my uncles and aunts recall the glory days, especially from half a century ago ("Kuma! What do you mean Youtube didn't exist back in the 1950's? How in the world did you manage to survive???") Nah seriously, the stories they can tell... hoo boy! Youtube is for sissies when you're busy building shelters to evade Japanese bombings.
4. Hanging out with Family - And uncles. And aunts. And cousins. Most of which you only meet up only once a year. It's relaxing just catching up on what's new. Everyone is growing up so fast so soon!
5. Visiting friends - Catching up with ol' high school buddies is always fun. You see how much they've changed throughout the years. The geeks who always got laughed at and shoved around the school hall are now high flying corporate figures. The nerds are showing off their latest brand new techno gizmo-whatchamacallit-gadgets. The awkward shy ones have now morphed into the coolest, hottest guys and girls. And some of the happening people who were the center of attention, and who you thought were gonna make it big after high school? Well... sometimes you just have to wonder why you never hear from them anymore... Kinda ironic when I think about it. :P
6. Visiting friends AND meeting their parents - This is like number 5 - but with benefits (refer to number 1).
7. Visiting friends who just got married - It feels kinda weird when friends your age give you ang pows. Really... really... really weird... but i'm not complaining!
8. New Threads - CNY is always the perfect excuse to splurge on that new suit/dress/skirt/shoes/watch/pants/jeans/perfume/deodorant/bling/branded underwear you've been eyeing but have always been feeling guilty about getting.
9. Watching fireworks - Fire + Explosions + Loud whizzes and crackles and booms = Awesomeness!
10. Getting Angpaus - Yeah, I know I said it before. But I like getting angpaus. ALOT.

Have a great CNY people!!

 Happy Chinese New Year 2010 Everyone!!!