Chinese New Year Celebrations

A sweet girl who was a student at the ALV camp invited me to her father's house in Taipei to celebrate the New Year (lunar) with her extended family. Here are some highlights:
Her English name is Sandy, and she is a senior in high school.

Sandy's Grandmother and aunt prepare steamed rice buns decorated with red dates (not for eating - I think for praying).

The tradition is to hide special items in the dumpling. Each hidden gem signifies a different blessing. The first blessing Sandy and I found in our dumpling bowl was a red date. It is supposed to lead to an easy pregnancy soon.... No thanks, I'll pas on that one!

Sandy and her Grandmother eating home made dumplings!

This is a special New Year's treat as well: dried Dragon Fruit!

Between a hot pot dinner at a restaurant, visiting her Grandfather in the hospital (I waited in the lobby), television watching at her father's, dumplings and firecrackers (to scare away the evil spirits) at her Grandmother's and finally crashing at her father's house once again, it was an eventful New Years!