2017-01-28

【Aiden in English】

        There really aren’t many traditions that go on in my family. I mean, we do set up a Christmas tree around the holiday season, and that’s about it for Christmas. It’s not like we don’t celebrate. Rather, it’s just different every year-round. Sometimes, it’s walking along with some exotic Pacific islands in the middle of the water. Other instances include me watching college football by myself. But because each year is so unique, I can’t really predict what is going to happen.

        Well, one of the only things that I know will occur is the Chinese New Year celebration at China Grace Christian Church. This nearby church holds a large festival of performances all on one night, where literally the program is jammed with Chinese cultural shows. There is typically some singing, followed by dancing, and probably more singing.

        Here’s the thing about these kinds of celebrations. They really don’t change. And I think that is a special thing about tradition. Traditions are born when something becomes engraved in a culture. In fact, I think each family has its own culture, and since they choose their own traditions, it builds the cultural aspects and uniqueness of everyone.

        Every year, I can count on this event to symbolize the culture of the Chinese New Year, with all kinds of entertaining presentations of the New Year. This year is the year of the rooster, a symbol of fidelity. Not sure why, but ask the people who were alive a few hundred years ago and you may or may not find an answer. It also is the symbol of exorcising evil spirits (exorcising- vocab word).

        Everyone has New Year’s resolutions, but no one really follows them after January. So now that the start of February has come along, I want to make some better resolutions to the New Year I respect more.

        For one, I want to actually commit to the projects and sporting events I sign up for. Not that I don’t do such already, it’s just simply that I don’t get involved as much as I would want to.

        Secondly, and this one probably is the biggest one, I want to stop procrastinating. I understand this is something that takes time to develop as a habit, but the rooster, because it calls out in the morning to start the day, somewhat symbolizes for me the call to start attacking work before it can build up. Sure, I rarely complete work late, but the stress of piling up projects is not fun.

        And finally, I want to be engaged in life more, especially with friends. School is kind of the only place I see them, and I hope that can soon change.

【Aiden in English】

        我家真沒有太多傳統可循，過節的時候雖然喜好聖誕樹烘托氣氛，但僅此而已，說來並不算無動於衷，只是每年慶祝方式各有不同，有的時候我們漫步在四面環海到處洋溢異國風情的太平洋島嶼，還有的時候我孤芳自賞美國大學橄欖球賽，因為歲歲標新立異，所以我沒法預測將來有啥幺蛾子出爐。

        當然，唯獨神州基督教會春晚聯歡會我早有所知，這所離家不遠的教堂將於今晚舉行大型藝術盛宴，全部內容均以中國文化為主題，少不了唱歌、跳舞、大概還有歌唱等形式。

        歸根結底，這類慶祝活動萬變不離其宗，我覺得關鍵在於“傳統”，所謂傳統無非就是與文化俱來的民族靈魂，事實上每個家庭也各有各的文化，他們建立自己的傳統根基，逐漸形成不同尋常的個體精粹。

        每年我都期待富含中華文化元素的春晚聯歡能夠帶來豐富多彩的文娛活動，今年是雞年，象徵着忠誠，不知緣何而起，想必即使追溯到幾百年前恐怕人們照樣毫無所知；同時，它還反映出人們祈求驅妖辟邪的美好願望。

        新年新氣象，大家紛紛暢抒新年決心，但元月過後沒人真正付諸行動。眼下一月將逝而二月在即，我也趁機聊表心意，決定拿出幾點切實可行的計劃以示新春姿態。

        第一點，我要認真完成自願報名參加的課題和體育運動，並不是說以前我缺乏意識，而是說主觀能動性尚有差距。

        第二點，也許是最重要的一點，我要改掉拖拖沓沓的作風，本人深知這種惡習絕非一朝一夕便能剔除，但連公雞都能持之以恆早起打鳴，我何苦折騰自己非得把布置的任務積壓成堆才開始動手。沒錯，我難得推延完成時間，但是因課業遺留問題所帶來的負面壓力讓心裡感激不是滋味。

        最後一點，我要多加體驗生活，尤其跟朋友一道，目前學校幾乎成了朋友相聚的唯一場所，但願儘快扭轉這種局面。

Today in History(歷史上的今天):

2017: Conn-Selmer Band Clinic(康塞爾默樂隊技術性指導)

2017 Twp Rec Basketball Game-5(2017年鄉村娛樂籃球隊第五場比賽)

2009: 巴拿馬運河(Panama Canal)

2008: 聖托馬斯島(Saint Thomas)