Christmas has come and gone once again. I'd been wanting to go holiday shopping ever since China eased its COVID-19 response measures in early December 2022, going to supermarkets to get ready for the big holiday.
My mom was a single parent in New York City, the US. During the Christmas holiday, she would always make sure our home had a real festive feel to it — and she'd always make sure to get a real tree. We'd decorate it with ornaments and lights on the morning of December 25. And I always knew presents awaited. Over the years, I've never forgotten these happy moments.
I first arrived in China in late 2008 and have since settled down in Shenyang, capital city of Liaoning Province in the northeast. Even though Christmas is not an official holiday in China, many shop windows will feature seasonal decorations and some locals will buy Christmas gifts for their families and friends.
Unfortunately, I tested positive for Omicron (奥密克戎) on December 13th, 2022, and had almost all the symptoms (症状). I figured this would be the end of my holiday. As I knew my body preferred natural herbs, I decided to take the path of traditional Chinese medicine. With the help of this ancient form of treatment, plenty of rest and plenty of water, I made a speedy recovery. It seemed Christmas had not been lost, after all.
After feeling much more like my normal self again, I went to the cinema to watch the latest action-adventure film, Avatar: The Way of Water. When I saw the fantasy epic on the big screen, I felt a sense of relief, like the movie theater was the only world that existed at that very moment.
It is an experience that gives me something to share. When we meet with trouble, embrace it and get through it. I would like to wish all of you a very happy Christmas and a wonderful 2023.
