Chinese New Year's

"Smooth Sailing"

We celebrated Chinese New Year's with all the Asian students, taking them to Boky's - a high-quality buffet restaurant in town.

Freshly made steamed & fried dumplings, peppered beef, mussels, a roast duck do-it-yourself carving station (!), chicken & beef yakitori, sushi - it really was pretty amazing fare and finished with ice-cream and tropical fruits.

Given our standard fare at the local pizzeria, we were in gastronomic bliss.

Tracie made "red packets," giving everyone in the house - everyone - 2CHF!  Michael just spent the 10 we gave on an Asterix, while Jack loves to count his savings - a natural banker with a love of numbers.

***

We have Indian students from Singapore, Chinese and Japanese-Americans, Koreans, & lots of mixes, leading to an interesting discussion on what is Asia anyway. "Asia" in Europe is a grab-bag term, meaning anything East, Central and even Western Asia; the term has replaced its predecessor, "Orient," serving as counterpoint to define what it is not - ie the "West," an equally elusive term.


Europe is having problems of its own, again, with a looming economic collapse.

These bills may be relics someday soon, symbolizing a currency union of a mythic European unity. Marked by architectural designs that evoke epochs without specific historicity; no one could agree on choosing particular national icons, only stylized symbols.


Anyway, the Chinese wishes for good fortune are more desperately needed today.

 "Happiness, Success, Fortune"