Chinesse new year.

My first chinesse new year event , last 2 years, I met the so called the "respected" elder of my wife's family. Seems everybody is listening to him.

He wore a red shirt, a tradition for chinesse new year, instead I wore black shirt. I think we looked at each other oddly perhaps because "Why red shirt, it looked odd !" versus "why black shirt, didn't you respect the value & culture behind it ?". Then came the lunch time, just when I'm about to take my turn to take the food somebody behind me said with smile "You should give the elders to take it first". As I'm already halfway in taking the food, I continued it anyway.

In chinesse culture, elders is respected and prioritized. As for me, I prefer effetiveness & effeciency - therefore I use black shirt as it is just suit me.

After this event, I began to think "yes, elder should be respected - it's a good culture !"

So there's a second chinesse new year event, last year. This time I used the red shirt - same as last year, I met the "grandfather". But this time it him who wore black shirt. He shooked my hand while I tried to give the regards in chinesse style (kiong hie). He said "Hi, no need so formal, it's a modern time !"

So the same odd look to each other remained happen again !