So here I am.
celebrating another Chinese New Year with different point of view. This year . It's different...
amids big concrete jungle of victorian buildings and dark London sky , I am thinking ...who am I and what am I doing here...
In faraway place , foreign place, you will thinking more and more seriously about the element that made you as you
You will find out that this is me - different from everyone else here - well minority. thats what I can say.
In my own place, in Jakarta, in Indonesia, I never been ever this patriotic to thinking and digesting the meaning of the Chinese New Year. Apart that my family (mom&dad) do not celebrate the Imlek it self, it's also meaning no more than just another "annual get together for glorious Chinese food and Ang Pao (red envelope of money!) here and there)". Well I never really feel Imlek as my day or our day (for my family) , it's more to their day - as them refer to my big family of the Tjoa's.
At that time we're thinking that we're just participating to the Tjoa's big celebration as we claim we're more western in a sense of celebrating Christmas more with my oma and big Christmas tree and many presents - as the western way - the one you can see in Hollywood blink Xmas movie...
This is funny.
But now, as I am far away.. since couple of years ago when I live far from home
I'd like to claim Imlek as my day too!!
Seeing the big announcement of future coming CNY celebration in Trafalgar Square - the heart of London's China Town - I wanna say : HEY ME...I ALSO WANT TO TAKE PART ..ME TOO. ...I WANNA BE A PART OF IT...
Imlek for me..
its more as a justification , a reminder, a memento, a moment, an exclamation that I do not forgetting what I am made of. I remember and take pride and joy of my heritage.
I took a calm pause to really define what I am. What had made me as me today.
Sheila, the proud daughter of my great dad, Tjoa Kim Hok.
The grand grand grand children of my great great great great grandfather who has come along the way to set their foot and their existence on the land of Indonesia.
I want this last forever for billions of next generations to come. To remember those in the past who had made me as me today...
This is for you dad.
This is for you my great great grandfathers
This is for you my ancestors
I do not forget what I am made of. It's in my blood.
Gong Xi Fa Cai 2011 as I bow to the grand majesty of many great spirits ahead of me in my solitude.
- my name is Sheila Tjoa, and I am not ashamed of it -
celebrating another Chinese New Year with different point of view. This year . It's different...
amids big concrete jungle of victorian buildings and dark London sky , I am thinking ...who am I and what am I doing here...
In faraway place , foreign place, you will thinking more and more seriously about the element that made you as you
You will find out that this is me - different from everyone else here - well minority. thats what I can say.
In my own place, in Jakarta, in Indonesia, I never been ever this patriotic to thinking and digesting the meaning of the Chinese New Year. Apart that my family (mom&dad) do not celebrate the Imlek it self, it's also meaning no more than just another "annual get together for glorious Chinese food and Ang Pao (red envelope of money!) here and there)". Well I never really feel Imlek as my day or our day (for my family) , it's more to their day - as them refer to my big family of the Tjoa's.
At that time we're thinking that we're just participating to the Tjoa's big celebration as we claim we're more western in a sense of celebrating Christmas more with my oma and big Christmas tree and many presents - as the western way - the one you can see in Hollywood blink Xmas movie...
This is funny.
But now, as I am far away.. since couple of years ago when I live far from home
I'd like to claim Imlek as my day too!!
Seeing the big announcement of future coming CNY celebration in Trafalgar Square - the heart of London's China Town - I wanna say : HEY ME...I ALSO WANT TO TAKE PART ..ME TOO. ...I WANNA BE A PART OF IT...
Imlek for me..
its more as a justification , a reminder, a memento, a moment, an exclamation that I do not forgetting what I am made of. I remember and take pride and joy of my heritage.
I took a calm pause to really define what I am. What had made me as me today.
Sheila, the proud daughter of my great dad, Tjoa Kim Hok.
The grand grand grand children of my great great great great grandfather who has come along the way to set their foot and their existence on the land of Indonesia.
I want this last forever for billions of next generations to come. To remember those in the past who had made me as me today...
This is for you dad.
This is for you my great great grandfathers
This is for you my ancestors
I do not forget what I am made of. It's in my blood.
Gong Xi Fa Cai 2011 as I bow to the grand majesty of many great spirits ahead of me in my solitude.
- my name is Sheila Tjoa, and I am not ashamed of it -
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shout it loud bee..