We gave out real red-packets (hong-baos) with actual moolah in them for the first time!

On monday evening, Shaoquan & Nathan actually drove over from Durham to greet us for the new year 拜年(bai-nian) with 8 oranges in hand no less! That was actually quite fun, and we got to explain to Nathan the symbolism of the practice. Marc was already accustomed to the idea of red-packets as signs of blessings (he calls them 'transfers', which they are, but trust him to put an academic label on them!), but it was the first time for us to actually give one to people for the new year.

For those of you who are thinking you can do the same, we have strategically posted this information only towards the end of the 15 days of new year celebration (last day is March 5th), so unless you (only those who are unmarried & younger than us qualify) hurry, learn how to say 万事如意 (wan shi ru yi) and drop by our place for a visit, no red packets for you!

Basketball season is upon us! The women's ACC tournament starts today -March 4th. The men's run from March 8-11. Then, the NCAA march madness begins March 13th. This means productivity will be at an all time low and that Marc & Shuwen will be bickering over UNC (i.e., tar-holes), Duke (i.e., Puke), and how much we both detest the Terps (no need for a made up insult to their name -- it's bad enough as it is)... ahhh ... the joys of marriage & basketball.

~ Shuwen