Chinese New Year Eve (除夕夜) is an important day in Chinese culture. It is a day where family membes gather together having dinner, symbolizing the reunion of the family. No matter where you are, what are you doing, every family member will try their very best and rush back home for this meaningful day and for this special Reunion Dinner 团圆饭.
But as time goes by, and migration playing such an important role in our modern days, it is rather difficult for each and everyone of us to be around, sitting together on the round table having a meal together. It is either the son is outstation doing business, or maybe children overseas studying, or perhaps daughter still working in some foreign land. However, on this special day, I believe that all of us will remember ... missing the days we sat together with our family, missing home, missing the taste and smell of our mum's delicious food......
No doubt, I miss home. I miss my parents, my siblings. I know that they are always there for us supporting us, loving us, caring for us still. How I miss the firecrackers, the CNY songs that is sounding in the air, the festive season in my hometown. But still I have my semester to finish, my studies to do. Thus, here I am still, in Ukraine.
Fortunately, here in this strange and foreign ex-Soviet country, we have our "family". Our family that supports each of us through. For 6 years, sweet, sour, bitter, salty, spicy, even umami, we have been through. We have gone through the thicks and thins, weather the hurricane (hmm, which event is hurricane enough??? :P) We endured the thick snow of the winter, admired the beautiful flowers of spring, enjoyed the summer breeze, walked the golden leaves of autumn...Are we not a family?
Each year we have our Reunion Dinner. And so have we this year. Just to share with my fellow readers, these were what we had.
But as time goes by, and migration playing such an important role in our modern days, it is rather difficult for each and everyone of us to be around, sitting together on the round table having a meal together. It is either the son is outstation doing business, or maybe children overseas studying, or perhaps daughter still working in some foreign land. However, on this special day, I believe that all of us will remember ... missing the days we sat together with our family, missing home, missing the taste and smell of our mum's delicious food......
No doubt, I miss home. I miss my parents, my siblings. I know that they are always there for us supporting us, loving us, caring for us still. How I miss the firecrackers, the CNY songs that is sounding in the air, the festive season in my hometown. But still I have my semester to finish, my studies to do. Thus, here I am still, in Ukraine.
Fortunately, here in this strange and foreign ex-Soviet country, we have our "family". Our family that supports each of us through. For 6 years, sweet, sour, bitter, salty, spicy, even umami, we have been through. We have gone through the thicks and thins, weather the hurricane (hmm, which event is hurricane enough??? :P) We endured the thick snow of the winter, admired the beautiful flowers of spring, enjoyed the summer breeze, walked the golden leaves of autumn...Are we not a family?
Each year we have our Reunion Dinner. And so have we this year. Just to share with my fellow readers, these were what we had.
~~~ LAO SHENG 捞生 ~~~
(Brandon Teo)
After sprinkling of the sesame and pouring of the sauce
~~~ROASTED GOOSE 烧鸸 ~~~
(Khiu Fu Lung)
~~~ VIETNAMESE SPRING ROLLS 越南春卷 ~~~
(Justin & SeeYee)
~~~ RIBS 红烧排骨 ~~~
(KokTian & CyokNoy)
~~~ LUO HAN ZHAI 罗汉斋 ~~~
(AnnFeng)
~~~ KOU ROU BAO & MUTTON ~~~
扣肉包 与 洋羊得意
KouRou - WeiMin & SyihYing
Bao - Me
Mutton - Izman
~~~ SWEET SOUR FISH 年年有余 ~~~
(Brandon Teo)
(Brandon Teo)
After sprinkling of the sesame and pouring of the sauce
~~~ROASTED GOOSE 烧鸸 ~~~
(Khiu Fu Lung)
~~~ VIETNAMESE SPRING ROLLS 越南春卷 ~~~
(Justin & SeeYee)
~~~ RIBS 红烧排骨 ~~~
(KokTian & CyokNoy)
~~~ LUO HAN ZHAI 罗汉斋 ~~~
(AnnFeng)
~~~ KOU ROU BAO & MUTTON ~~~
扣肉包 与 洋羊得意
KouRou - WeiMin & SyihYingBao - Me
Mutton - Izman
~~~ SWEET SOUR FISH 年年有余 ~~~
(Brandon Teo)
~~~ TANG YUAN 汤圆 ~~~
(YanLee)
Hmm, we had double desserts that day. The other one is Tauhu Fa (豆腐花) by Jeffrey but I guess we are just too anxious to eat it, hence we have forgotten to take the picture hehehe. But trust me, his Tauhu Fa taste even better than those we can find in Malaysia. It is so silky smooth, that you will definitely be craving for a second portion.
No matter what dishes we had, it is nothing more important than to know that we have each other. I am sure we all miss our families back home in Malaysia. And I appreciate every friends of mine who are with me, going through the highs & lows of my life. We have shared our happiness and sadness. We quarreled, we fight, we cried and laugh. And these has make up my sweet memories here in Ukraine. May we continue to nurture this invaluable friendship that has been built through the years and may its root grow deeper ... ... 
Happy Chinese New Year
&
~ FRIENDSHIP FOREVER ~
&
~ FRIENDSHIP FOREVER ~
2 comments:
Amazing, gorgeous, impressive, unbelievable!! You guys are awesome if these are all self-made and I believe they are. Coooooooooool!!
Totally homemade. And we have two of the best chefs in our university, Khiu & Brandon hehehe.
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