I’m not very Asian. I am quite Americanized and believe in the basic tenets of the American dream. That being said, I did appreciate one cultural element of Vietnamese culture while growing up, the celebration of Lunar New Year. As a kid, it was quite exciting to wake up and get delicious red envelopes filled with money. Coming from a poor family, that money had to last me the entire year when I was in middle school and high school.
Anyway, “Tet” gives us an opportunity to start the new year on a positive note. I will continue to embrace this tradition and pass it on from generation to generation in the future. In previous years I have given $2 red envelopes to all my students. Not this year though, weddings are too expensive.
I wish everybody a happy year of the rabbit with joy and prosperity to last a lifetime.
