2010-12-23, 12:28 AM
Don't want this to be a story about my life, but I'll try to make this brief (though I doubt this'll work).
Back when I was a child, around this time of year, or maybe it was Jan-Feb, I only celebrated one major holiday: Tết. It's the Vietnamese New Year, but based on the Lunar calendar. When I was eight and immigrated to the United States, I didn't know what Christmas was, to be honest. My very first Christmas, I received a Batman action-figure from my aunt. From then on, I would always look towards to Christmas, not because I was expecting toys, but because it was different in America. It just seemed really different, because in Vietnam, during Tết, I would receive money in red-envelopes. Yes, the same ones that you guys get on MapleStory during the Lunar New Year's month.
When I moved from CA to PA, I lived with my aunt & uncle at their house for a couple years. It was fun, and I was always looking towards to Christmas. I loved the music, seeing Santa Clause at the mall or whatever. Similar to you, Sarah, watching "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" was literally a ritual. I hated the Grinch though, so could never watch that much. Watched it three times in my life, excluding the movie with Jim Carrey in it.
But anyways, as I grew up, that magic and expectation faded away. I was thinking more about managing money and giving gifts to friends. Recently, this year, I don't think I'm going to be expecting anything, nor will I give anything. I think Christmas should be a time for celebration and being with friends, families, loved-ones, etc. I don't care about receiving anything (besides figures omgwtp), and I won't be expecting anything. As long as I have a fun time drinking with some of my friends, I think it'll make my year. I don't get that excitement and joy out of Christmas anymore, I think Christmas is completely commercialized now, realizing as I grew up. People just spend money, and more money. That's all it is.
Back when I was a child, around this time of year, or maybe it was Jan-Feb, I only celebrated one major holiday: Tết. It's the Vietnamese New Year, but based on the Lunar calendar. When I was eight and immigrated to the United States, I didn't know what Christmas was, to be honest. My very first Christmas, I received a Batman action-figure from my aunt. From then on, I would always look towards to Christmas, not because I was expecting toys, but because it was different in America. It just seemed really different, because in Vietnam, during Tết, I would receive money in red-envelopes. Yes, the same ones that you guys get on MapleStory during the Lunar New Year's month.
When I moved from CA to PA, I lived with my aunt & uncle at their house for a couple years. It was fun, and I was always looking towards to Christmas. I loved the music, seeing Santa Clause at the mall or whatever. Similar to you, Sarah, watching "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation" was literally a ritual. I hated the Grinch though, so could never watch that much. Watched it three times in my life, excluding the movie with Jim Carrey in it.
But anyways, as I grew up, that magic and expectation faded away. I was thinking more about managing money and giving gifts to friends. Recently, this year, I don't think I'm going to be expecting anything, nor will I give anything. I think Christmas should be a time for celebration and being with friends, families, loved-ones, etc. I don't care about receiving anything (besides figures omgwtp), and I won't be expecting anything. As long as I have a fun time drinking with some of my friends, I think it'll make my year. I don't get that excitement and joy out of Christmas anymore, I think Christmas is completely commercialized now, realizing as I grew up. People just spend money, and more money. That's all it is.