I did my usual routine: go to Kin lecture, talk to some people, then headed back to Saugeen to pick up some breakfast and books for my next lecture. Today while picking up my breakfast, some Chinese chef sees me, and says "Gung hay fat choi!". That took me by surprise (both the random Chinese chef, and him saying "Gung hay fat choi" to me) and I laughed.
The white lady being the counter, who serves the food, notices this and responds "Oh right! So how was your Chinese New Year?"
We get into a little conversation. She says that not only Chinese people celebrate it, she does so herself. It was sort of interesting, her enthusiasm was pretty admirable. I told her about me not washing my hair today, and she said decided to do the same thing. It's sort of humbling having other non-Chinese people taking such an interest in this event (probably more interested than I am). All I can hope is her Chinese coworkers aren't laughing at the foreigner trying to immitate their rituals. It's sort of like that white guy who's in all the Hong Kong TV shows. I'd say he's more of a freak show to them; the novelty of a white man speaking their language is so rare.
There's a Chinese New Years type dinner being prepared on res tonight. I guess I'm obligated to buy it; similarily to how I always buy sushi when it's on sale on res.
