An All-Too-Familiar Sight

That you'll only see once a year.

Yes, I was there, squeezing my way through the crowd, trying to find a way out. Sweaty I was, and tired I was. Yet, it was the only time of the year where people from all walks of life come down and squeeze with each other, simply just to soak in the festive atmosphere.

Oh, happy Chinese New Year.

For like the ten thousandth time, I don't actually like Chinese New Year.

Yes, I'm a Chinese and I'm supposed to enjoy all the festive traditions that we indulge ourselves in. I'm supposed to greet my elders and in turn receive a red packet. I'm supposed to like the house visiting sessions where we go from one house to another, to eat and engage in some catch-up conversations. And if we truly enjoy ourselves, it's a bonus.

Still, I don't really like Chinese New Year. For all the extra cash and extra food that I receive, I cannot lie. I hate it when we have to do house visits, and we have to meet up with folks, relatives and friends that we probably see only once a year. Twice, if there is matrimony joy in the family.

It's like we have to keep up our smiles, and behave. And sometimes, it is just so hard to break the ice. Conversation topics have been the same since forever. A little of "How are your grades?", a little of "Which university are you going to attend?", and a little of "So have you been catching up with so-and-so?".

Come on, guys! Don't you get tired of asking the same questions every year? Aren't you guys bored with how typical those conversation topics are?

And when you get the answer, you try and act like you're interested. You try to appear as though you know what is going on. But deep down inside, you're just hoping that time will tick by faster, and you can make some excuse to leave, and proceed to your next destination.

And the cycle continues.

But then again, what is there for me to do? Who wouldn't want to just earn some quick buck by just smiling and say some nice greetings?

Thankfully this year, I found a question that I like to answer.

"So, how long more before you finish your national service?"

My reply?

"Twenty days."