Dihua Je

Dihua Je, Je meaning street, is a festive place to experience the preparations for Chinese New Year. Feb 3 is Chinese New Year and 2011 is the year of the rabbit. It is a 15 day celebration ending with the Lantern Festival.

We jumped on the 601 bus from school and headed to Dihua with Mr. Arnold and his students who donate their time to the Orphanage Club. Their mission, Friday night, was to purchase traditional foods that would be packaged for 25 families who the Pearl S. Buck International deemed the neediest. The organization helps women who have birthed children from military men who have occupied their country. They also address the issues of poverty and discrimination faced by children in Asian countries.

Food is very important in Chinese culture and auspicious foods are served throughout the 15 days.

Whole chicken = togetherness

Noodles = long life

Clams = wealth

Lettuce = in Chinese sounds like fortune so lettuce wraps are important

Oranges = luck an wealth, gold = color of nobility.

Fish = wish and abundance

We wandered up and down the streets and were greeted by Father Prosperity, local police, and ??? gorillas.  

I think I had as many pictures taken of me….the crazy American in a t-shirt and flip flops in Winter. It is between 50-60 degrees here.

We sampled ginger tea which was yummy, squid balls which were not. Nougat candy, jelly bellies, dried fruits and vegetables and many seeds, nuts, and other things we have no idea what they were. The sellers would pop things into your mouth as you said hello. 

The atmosphere was fun and it felt like a fair to us, loads of people.  loads of fun, and some terrible smells like stinky tofu: tofu marinates for a couple of hours in a brine of vegetables, tofu and dried shrimp that has been fermenting for six months or more.

Saturday, I went to school to help box up the goodies. Each box contained: tuna, corn, peaches, squid, several types of noodles, candies, sausages, soaps, toothpaste and brushes, toys and school supplies or kids and other things I cannot remember. It was a great project and I was glad I could participate in it.