Chinese New Year

What comes to you first when you hear of ‘Chinese New Year’?
To the Chinese, it is when you get new shirts, angpows (or red packets) and when you gather with your family with good food. To the Malays and the Indians, it is when you get free holiday and when you see the Chinese walking around in red clothes.
However to me, Chinese New Year is not just any day to me. It is when I can forget about everything, forget what day it is, forget what I need to do, when I truly relax.
Having a hometown in a calm and almost forgotten place, is a great thing to have. Every time when I go back there, I feel a sense of comfort, because it is stress-free there, I do not need to worry about what to do, what I have not finished, it is just that I do not need to worry about anything. Also, it is the only time when I find peace in my mind, when I totally forget about everything here, all the exams, the home works, everything.
Also, it is only during Chinese New Year when I get to meet up with my cousins as they are all spread out around the word having their University degrees. Being the only time when I meet them, I cherishes these times the most, we would normally stay-up throughout the whole night, talking about how we are lately.
Chinese New Year is also the time when I get a taste of my grandmother’s cooking as I have to attend to CCA training during the holidays so it is only during Chinese New Year when I get an exception so I can go back to my parents’ hometown.
Chinese New Year is indeed a very meaningful day to me. However, I wish that our school can have an extra day of holiday so we can spend more time with our family and to recharge ourselves to cope with the everlasting school works.