Lunar New Year in Washington, D.C. (2)

Students at Saturday morning Chinese schools celebrate Lunar New Year a different way. Not every child enjoys learning Chinese because it is more difficult than English. But Chinese parents still encourage them to learn the language and culture. To celebrate, the students do Chinese calligraphy and paper cuttings of  "spring" or "fortune."

The feast on New Year's Eve is very important. People crowd Asian supermarkets for weeks before the celebration. Especially popular are traditional foods like sticky rice cake, fish, oranges and dumplings. Chinese restaurants provide takeout service, or people can reserve a table and eat there. 

After the feast, parents put money in red envelopes and give them to their children. The custom of staying up late doesn't apply here because work and school are waiting the next morning. 

Children are in bed. No loud firecrackers. No phone calls of "Gong Xi Fa Tsai." (恭喜發財) This is Lunar New Year in D.C. The best part is celebrating with family. Happy New Year everyone!

Info Cloud
ABC: American-born Chinese 
在美國土生土長的華人
immigrate: 
有些人是小時候跟父母親移民到美國, 或是獨自前往美國的小留學生, 這些人就不能稱為 ABC

Grammar Gym
Especially: 放在前面
*This snack shop is famous for its desserts. Especially delicious are the pies.
*There are many trails in this national park. Especially beautiful is the trail to the waterfall.  

Language Lab
1.crowd v. 擠滿, 塞滿 
*Movie fans crowded the theater at the premier.
首映當天影迷擠滿了整個戲院
*Passengers crowd the buses during rush hours.
尖峰時刻乘客塞滿了巴士

2. takeout 外帶
*Mom will buy takeout pizza for dinner.
媽媽會買外帶的pizza當做晚餐
*I asked the server to give me the takeout menu.
我請服務生給我一份外賣的菜單
takeout n. 外賣的食物的餐廳
*The couple runs a Chinese takeout.
這對夫妻經營一家中國菜的外賣店

3. apply v.適合, 適用
適用在什麼對象 用介系詞 to
*This rule only applies to official employees, not the part-time staff.
這個規定只適用正式員工, 不包括兼職人員

4. firecracker n. 鞭炮
*The firecracker didn't go off at first, but after a few minutes it suddenly went bang. 
這個鞭炮本來沒有爆開, 但是幾分鐘之後, 突然發出劇響
firework n. 煙火
*The fireworks were lit according to our careful calculations. 
這煙火都是根據精確的計算才點燃的


Link: mms://webvod.goodtv.tv/SC/20130209_d316b.wmv

Lunar New Year in Washington, D.C.(1)

A celebration of traditions
Gongs and drums, dragon dances and kung fu demonstrations. You could imagine you were somewhere in Asia celebrating the Lunar Year. But this is Washington, D.C., the United States capital.
A Chinese New Year's parade and festival take place here every year. People must work and go to school, so this holiday could be neglected. But in D.C., a large number of Chinese keep the holiday traditions alive.
The parade in Chinatown is the most memorable part. Different groups from the Chinese community participate in a variety of activities - martial arts, ribbon dances, traditional drums and tai chi. Hundreds of tourists flock to view this parade. Lanterns and red envelopes are given away.
The mall is also impressive during this time. For two weeks, the mall lobby is decorated with spring-festival couplets and red lanterns. Different kinds of entertainment go on every day - Chinese and Cantonese music performances, acrobatics, Chinese calligraphy, and traditional dances. All are the essence of Chinese culture. Parents take their children shopping and let them enjoy this exhibition of a great culture.

Info Cloud
capital n.
1.首都、首府
* Washington, D.C. is the capital of United States.
2.(某種工業、活動等集中的)重要都市
* Paris is the fashion capital of the world.
巴黎是時尚之都
capitol n.美國國會大廈

Language Lab
demonstration n.實地示範、證明
demonstrate v.示範
* Mary's cooking demonstration on TV helped the sales of our frying pen rise by 15%.
Mary在電視上的烹飪示範，幫助我們的炒菜鍋銷售量提升15%.
* The mechanic demonstrated how to replace the tires.
技師示範如何更換輪胎
neglect v.忽略、忽視；疏於照顧
* Jason put all his time into his work and neglected his family.
Jason把所有的時間都投入工作中，而忽略了家人。
* The boy was neglected by his parents and didn't even go to school.
這個小孩被父母疏於照顧，甚至沒有去上學。
essence n.本質、精髓
* The essence of the doctor's theory is that learning should be inspired from within. 這位博士的理論精髓是學習的動力必須來自內在
* The essence of this novel is the greed of human beings.
這本小說最想要闡述的人類的貪婪
exhibition n.展覽、展示
exhibit v.展覽  n.展示品
* The exhibition of Monet's paintings will start next month.
莫內的畫展下個月就會開始
* Exhibit No.1 is a vase from the Ming Dynasty.
一號展示品是明朝的花瓶