Celebrating the Chinese New Year

With two different Chinese families.
Yesterday I celebrated the Chinese New Year with my family and two different Chinese Families. My first celebration was a lunch with a Chinese family that owns the popular “Chicken Rice Shop” franchise. I ended up getting my first taste of the pungent Durian here (In the form of Durian Pancake). The taste isn't so bad, but it made my breath smell like sewer for a little bit. I got my first real ang pau here, which contained a generous sum. Although I don’t know exactly what I all ate (Besides a little of everything), It all tasted good. After we ate everyone talked about general life, watched American Idol, or just ate some more.
Later we had a BBQ at our house, but one of our neighbors the block over also had a mini-party which I am told is “Bad luck cleansing” . I was able to visit for a while and watch the “Lions” preform rituals, entertain/scare the neighborhood kids, hand out fruit, hold up cars, dance, ect… I ended up giving my ang pau from this family to one of the “Lions” who then shook my hand from his mouth. All being said it was pretty entertaining.
PS: Check out my updated earlier blog post here to see a video of me failing at karaoke!