GONG XI FA CAI!

Over the past 2 weeks, spring cleaning my flat was my top agenda item as Chinese New Year is approaching. It is imperative to have a spotless house especially in the kitchen, as the Kitchen God returns to Heaven to make his report on humans to the Jade Emperor. Thus many Chinese households have to ensure its cleanliness to ensure that the Jade Emperor will bestow good fortune and luck upon them for the coming year. It is also believed that cleaning sweeps away the bad luck and makes way for good luck to arrive. All brooms and other cleaning utensils are then put away as not to sweep away the good luck on the first day.

This year is the Year of the Goat or Sheep, and falls on 19th February 2015. There are 12 zodiac animals - Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog, and Pig, and 5 elements Earth, Wind, Metal, Fire and Water. Each element with an animal occurs once in 60 years, and this forms the basis for the person born in the year’s character.

I can remember my mother buying us new clothes before every Chinese New Year, and they had to be red as it the colour of good luck, and wards off evil spirits. It was important to be dressed from head to toe in new clothes as it symbolises the beginning of a new year. She also used to insist that we got our hair cut and chooses an auspicious day for us all to visit the hairdressers. On New Year’s Eve, we would gather with all our relatives for a reunion dinner, lighting firecrackers to usher in the Year, and ask for forgiveness from our elders for all the wrong doings or for being naughty the past year.

Our house would be filled with lots of different types of cookies, prawn crackers, oranges, tangerines and lots of scrumptious cooked food, ready to be served to our guests on New Year’s Day.

The giving of ‘red envelopes’ which contain money from our elders and married relatives makes it a very ‘profitable’ time for the children. It is customary and polite for children to wish elders a happy new year and a year of happiness, health and good fortune before accepting the red envelope. When we visited other relatives or friends, we would also take a packet of oranges/tangerine to their house as both words mean wealth and

luck. We would also wish them 'Xin Nian Kuai Le', Happy New Year in Mandarin, or "San Nin Faai Lok" in Cantonese.

Our New Year celebrations last for 15 days, and the Chinese Community in London will be celebrating by having festivities in 
Trafalgar Square, Chinatown and Shaftesbury Avenue.

Highlights on the event include a lively parade and a main stage in Trafalgar Square on 22nd February from 10am until 6pm. The day kicks off with the parade from Duncannon Street to Shaftesbury Avenue with floats, Chinese lion and dragon teams and more. Performances from local artists and traditional food and craft stalls can be found in various locations throughout the day. Follow these web-links below for more activities throughout the celebrations. Join in to celebrate and have a great weekend out.

GONG XI FA CAI- HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

http://www.timeout.com/london/things-to-do/chinese-new-year-in-london
http://www.chinatownlondon.org





To find out your animal year check the table below with the year of your birth.
 
Rat: 2008, 1996, 1984, 1972, 1960
Ox: 2009, 1997, 1985, 1973, 1961
Tiger: 2010, 1998, 1986, 1974, 1962
Rabbit: 2011, 1999, 1987, 1975, 1963
Dragon: 2012, 2000, 1988, 1976, 1964
Snake: 2013, 2001, 1989, 1977, 1965
Horse: 2014, 2002, 1990, 1978, 1966
Goat: 2015, 2003, 1991, 1979, 1967
Monkey: 2016, 2004, 1992, 1980, 1968
Rooster: 2017, 2005, 1993, 1981, 1969
Dog: 2018, 2006, 1994, 1982, 1970
Pig: 2019, 2007, 1995, 1983, 1971


Written by Irene Kuan. Irene is Director of Finance at FOCUS.

For more information about FOCUS visit:  www.focus-info.org

Should you wish to share your expat experiences in the UK, please contact us: office@focus-info.org

International women invading the Ritz!

On Monday, 10 November 2014, The Federation of International Women’s Association in London (FIWAL) hosted its Annual Presidents’ Luncheon at The Ritz Hotel. FIWAL has 33 clubs under its umbrella and every year invites all the Clubs Presidents to lunch. As FOCUS is a member club, Alessandra attended together with me as an Executive Honorary Treasurer of FIWAL.

After a very warm welcome at the door, we were escorted to the Music Room of the William Kent House (acquired in 2005 by The Ritz), and handed a fruit cocktail. Whilst I attended to my duties, checking names off the guest list, Alessandra mingled with the other guests, all fellow members of FIWAL,  also greeted FIWAL Founder members, Past Presidents and other Dignitaries – wives of the Italian, Chilean, Turkish Ambassador and Australian High Commissioner in London.

Lunch started at 12.30, Roast Halibut with Mushroom Puree or Artichoke Royal with Seasonal Vegetables, Perigord Truffle and Mushroom Veloute for the vegetarians…….yummy!!!! Over lunch, I chatted with Sophia (from Greece) and Laura (from Italy) and had a wonderful discussion about holidays and cuisine in both these countries. Alessandra sat with Benedetta (Italian) and Laura (American).


Over dessert which was a really scrumptious exotic fruit soufflé with banana ice cream, washed down with more petits fours, tea or coffee, our guest speaker, Brigid Keenan, had us all in fits of laughter as she relived some of her adventures as a diplomatic wife. Being an author and a journalist, she had used her talents and had written two books, 'Diplomatic Baggage' and ' Packing Up', based on her experiences of being a 'trailing spouse of a diplomat'.

It was such a wonderful day spent in a very special Music Room at The Ritz, with close camaraderie and fellowship of women from all cultures and countries. It was really sad to say goodbye when it was time to leave but thank you Fiwal for organising such a fantastic luncheon!

http://fiwal.org.uk/

Written by Irene Kuan. Irene is Director of Finance at FOCUS.

For more information about FOCUS visit:  www.focus-info.org

My birthday at the African Fashion Week!

African Fashion Week London is a celebration of African design talent and the diverse ethnic influences that contribute to fashion in the UK. This exciting event champions new and emerging designers who are inspired by the rich culture of Africa and incorporate this heritage into contemporary design. Top designers were showcasing collections on the catwalk including British designer Ade Bakare from Nigeria and Adama Paris from Senegal, whose designs are popular in New York city and Tokyo boutiques.



The 8th of August was my birthday. As I had a day-off,  I chose to

attend this AFWL show at Olympia with Grace from Kenya. Luckily we arrived early as the queue was already halfway down the road from the doors. Using our free passes from FOCUS, we finally got in, and were amazed to see how big the hall was, with the catwalk in the centre, photographers already setting up, stallholders all round the hall displaying their wares in the best way to attract the crowd. Already crowds were shuffling to see the different, colourful African fabricated handbags, shoes, jewellery, headscarves to get the best purchases and bargains.


The show started at 2pm and we were lucky to
be seated at the aisle on the second row, thus enabling us to take pictures.  Each designer showed their talents on the models, parading down the catwalk, with cheers from the crowd. The loudest cheers, wolf whistles and clapping was for the warrior man, bare top, wearing a bow tie with shorts, and again at the end when he came out with the designer. There were various designers for each showing, and their designs ranged from casual, office-wear, day and

evening, and amazed everyone with the brilliance of their designs. The show lasted 45 minutes, with all the models dancing on the catwalk at the end, in time with the huge applause from the crowd. We were told that the next showing would be in 2 hours, but in the meantime, there were demonstrations by the vendors of their clothing – how to wear it, how to tie the various headscarves, more shopping, food and drinks for the hungry. Free magazines, samples for hair products, including fresh organic food were also being handed out, and I left the show laden with all these freebies.


Unfortunately, I could not stay for the next show as I had arranged to have tea with my sister and later  a scrumptious Turkish dinner with other friends and family. It was a good way to enjoy my birthday despite the heavy rain at the end!!

Written by Irene Kuan. Irene is Director of Finance at FOCUS.

For more information about FOCUS visit:  www.focus-info.org

Japanese Tea Ceremony and Kimono Show at The Army and Navy Club 'The RAG'

 I attended this event organised by The Women’s Council on Tuesday 25th March, 2014. Everyone was excited on arrival as this was the first time many of us experienced such a special ceremony. A Japanese member of  The Council, Kimoko, was hosting the event. She introduced us to her helpers for the day, some students and first-time arrivals to the UK, who were going to help her with the art of Japanese Tea ceremony in the adjoining room, whilst she was demonstrating the art of wearing the Kimono. The guests were asked to select which they would like to attend first, either the Japanese Tea ceremony or the Kimono show, and separated into the different rooms.

The guests for the Kimono display were lead to a scrumptious display of pastries and sandwiches for
our afternoon English tea. As Kimoko suggested having the English tea first, as the Japanese tea is strong and may upset delicate tummies if we were to have it first.  While Kimoko unveiled the different pieces of the Kimono, I was approached and asked to be the model, but first had to wash my hands and undress. Kimoko took me away and after undressing, she tied a white petticoat to my waist and asked me to wear a pure white kimono, the traditional underwear. I was then lead out back where she first tied a string rope to my waist, then she put the actual ‘Komon kimono’ (ie single pattern
throughout) on me. More cumberbands, a strong piece of ‘cardboard’ and an exquisite piece of embroidered silk, ‘obi’, she deftly tied into place whilst I stood still. I was asked by the spectators whether it ‘was not too tight’ and ‘could I breathe?’. Yes ! I was really comfortable, posing as guests’cameras flashed continuously. Kimoko then put plain white socks on my feet and I was surprised to see that there were clasps on the side above the ankles to ensure a tight fit on the legs. Upon wearing the slippers, I had truly turned Japanese!!! I was then asked to parade and show the other guests the whole regalia connected with wearing a kimono.

After I put my usual clothes back on, I was invited to the Japanese Tea ceremony, which was demonstrated with elegance and precision. The many different movements in preparing a tiny cup of Japanese tea is a tradition of past ages, not to be shortcut:

- the boiling of the water to a certain temperature; the delicate spooning of powdered tea into the cup; the whisking until the tea is frothy, which also cools it slightly; then the facing of the design of the cup to the recipient, bowing to offer the tea; the recipient accepting it with both hands, bowing thanks in return; turning the cup before sipping, wiping the cup with the fingers and wiping it on the tissue which is on the inside lapel of the kimono, before returning the cup to the brewer.

Learning about the Japanese traditions was a most enlightening time for all who attended this fabulous Japanese Tea Ceremony and Kimono Dressing Demonstrations. It is something I will never forget!

Written by Irene Kuan. Irene is Director of Finance at FOCUS.

For more information about FOCUS visit:  www.focus-info.org