FROM as far back as I can remember, I have lived in the same house as my grandparents.
My grandmother would spend countless hours cooking in the kitchen, and when I fall ill, she would boil herbal soup for me.
My grandfather would sit in his favourite spot on the couch and entertain me with tales of his journey to success in his business.
With a span of over six decades between my grandparents and me, they have passed down various cultures and traditions to me.
For example, I would address all the elders at the same table before eating a meal together as a sign of respect.
To celebrate birthdays, my grandmother would boil eggs and dye them red using red food colouring. She explained that in Chinese culture, red represents luck, while eggs symbolise birth and a new beginning. Black, on the other hand, is considered taboo for celebrations as it signifies mourning.
In the weeks leading up to Chinese New Year, I would help decorate the house. The home would be awash in red, with lanterns hanging from the ceilings, “Fu” characters adorning the walls, and strings of gauzy red fabric draped across the doors.
My grandmother would fry giant prawn crackers, a favourite snack among her grandchildren. I would also help my grandfather pack money into red packets.
Apart from traditions, my grandparents have passed down plenty of wisdom and knowledge.
I would spend hours in the kitchen carefully watching my grandmother cook her signature dishes, hoping to replicate each burst of flavour precisely.
My grandfather, who has a passion for collecting ancient Chinese artefacts, would show me how to polish his collection while sharing the history of each unique piece.
My grandparents love to “spoil” my cousins and me. They often buy us trinkets, souvenirs and candies. Whenever they are tasked with babysitting, they let us enjoy plenty of screen time, though not to my parents’ satisfaction.
There is, however, a language barrier between my grandparents and me. Their first language is Cantonese, while mine is English. This sometimes makes communication difficult.
Living in a multigenerational household has fostered a special bond between my grandparents and me. I feel lucky to live under the same roof as them, and I’ll continue to cherish every moment I have with them.
Tisha, 15, a student in Selangor, is a participant of the BRATs Young Journalist Programme run by The Star’s Newspaper-in-Education (Star-NiE) team. For updates on the BRATs programme, go to facebook.com/niebrats.
