This weekend will be the Chinese New Year. It will be the second year that I will have a chance to spend these important days with my family. And this is also the second year that I will do the honor job of taking my mom to do some shopping in the Chinatown. Recently Chinese New Year always causes a conflict between my sister and my mom. It is the conflict between the traditional way of life and modern way of life and between convenience and authenticity. My sister thinks my mom should just finish her Chinese New Year shopping in the air-conditioned supermarket instead of walking around in the super hot and crowded Chinatown. But my mom thinks to find authentic food, cheaper and better products, she has to buy them in Chinatown. I totally agree with my sister but I also understand my mom. So to put a stop to that conflict, I volunteer to do this job. I guess I am the only one in the family who never argues or says no to mom. Whatever she wants to do or have, I will do or provide it to her. What is the point of arguing with her anyway when I know she will not listen, or even though she will listen to me (and I am also the only one in the family who always have her ears), I know she will not be happy about it so what the heck, as I always remind my sister that how long she will be with us, how long she will have energy to do what she wants to do, so as long as she can do it, I should support her in every way.

For the past 7 years that I was in the US. Our maid always accompanied her to do this heavy job. However, since our maid quited her job right before I visited my family, I have officially replaced her. I do clean, I do dish and I do laundry. The difference is the maid gets paid but I have to pay.

Besides China and its territories, Chinatown in Bangkok might be the biggest Chinatown in the world. As I am expecting, the Chinese New Year brings ten of thousands of people to Chinatown. People are everywhere. I cannot believe how many people are packed in these smaller than 2x2 meters street. The amazing thing is we have to share these tiny streets with some trolleys and motorcycles. And people seem to know how to navigate through this sea of craziness without being run over by those trolleys and motorcycles. People are pushing, vendors are yelling and buyers are screaming. But I am so quiet even though my sweat is pouring out like raining and my hands and arms are sore from carrying those heavy stuffs. Plus my whole body, in particular my chest, is so aching from heavy gym routine yesterday, I feel like I am walking in hell. But I do not have any single complain or gesture to show my mom that I am so tired and hot. I guess I do not want her to feel bad. Actually, it is kinda fun to see people from all walks of life here. And most of the time I just kill time by just watching and questioning why some people believe in something that I think it’s illogical (or maybe they are but I am not ). It is fun actually to just let your thoughts flow to wherever they want to go.

A lot of people and including my mom buy the objects of worship that made of paper. They burn those things to offer gods and goddess and believe that those things will bring them good lucks and wealth. While I am watching the seller making a pitch to the buyers why they should buy certain objects of worship, I wonder if that is true, there would be no poverty and suffering in this world. But I just keep it to myself. Sometimes I argue with my sister when she has a fight with my mom about this point. She thinks it is totally nonsense and it destroys the environment (because of the lead in those products). Even though I agree with her in this point and I will not continue this tradition myself, I remind her to look at this ceremony as the tradition. It is something that shows our root and culture. There are hundreds of silly ceremonies and traditions around the world, but to look at it in different angles; I think they show that they have roots and the ancient ways of thinking to manage the society at that certain time.

I think some, if they are not too extreme and nonsense, are beautiful and intriguing.

Like everything in life, frustration and exhaustion come and go. After I grab a cab from Chinatown to my aunt’s house and finish my lunch, I continue my own tradition at the gym even though my body is still aching from heavy lifting yesterday.

What the heck four days in Luangprabang without gym and I will have some parties to go on this Chinese New Year weekend so I’d better work hard before my dance marathon starts .

Tae Athikomvittaya