Sunday, February 11, 2007

Year of the Pig: A Year of Ease?

Tet, the traditional Vietnamese lunar New Year, is coming. For Vietnamese, the most important thing this occasion brings is Family Reunion. This, thus, pushes the pace of living fastest than ever. People try to finish whatever possible to finish before heading home. On Highway N# 1, the traffic goes like crazy. Buses and trucks driving none stop to make as many rounds as possible.

There is a number of families, in contrary to all those busy and happy-oriented activities, seem having no Tet this year. The thousand-year old traditional festival simply can not overcome their family catastrophe.

During the first 39 days of 2007 (from Jan 1st thru Feb 8th, 2007), explosive remnant of war related accident have taken away 8 dear members away from their families forever. Seven of those were fathers � the families� breadwinners, the ones who supposed to be busy preparing Tet for their families these days. Five other families were lucky enough to have their member survived from the accident. However, four families are preparing to celebrate New Year�s Eve at Hospitals since their dear member still in critical conditions.

The Lunar New Year�s Eve is on February 16th, 2007. February 17th is the first day of the year of the Pig. Many Vietnamese believe that this would be a year of ease. Hope that is what the Pig would bring for 2007.

No comments:

Post a Comment