How expats spent Spring Festival

• Source: Global Times
• [02:23 February 20 2010]
• Comments

Marina Kononenko, Russian, Administrator at logistics firm

I cooked with my friend and we watched a film together. Spring Festival this year is at the same time as Maslenitsa, which is a Russian festival, so we made pancakes. Maslenitsa marks the end of winter and the coming of spring. It was a quiet time and I had to work part of each day but I enjoyed the fireworks.

Tim Gingrich, American, Manager of Business Development, Weber Shandwick Asia Pacific

I spent Spring Festival at my in-laws' home in Tianjin. Just like Thanksgiving in America, people eat a lot during the holiday. Except whereas Thanksgiving lasts one day, the Spring Festival lasts one week. That's a lot of food! I like playing Chinese Checkers during the holiday. Even though I never win, it's a good way to practice "The Art of War." It was also very interesting to talk with my parents-in-law about past Spring Festivals. It's hard for foreigners to imagine how much China has changed. But hearing Chinese people's personal stories of the events, which I could otherwise only read about in history books, is a great way for me to gain perspective.