Gong Xi Fa Cai!

I wish you all will be prosperous. I read it in the blogspot of linkenlim that this is the literal translation of the Chinese New Year's greetings, GONG XI FA CAI!

I wish this especially for this old man who gave me these two big mandarin oranges the other week. I don't know him personally, not even his name. But I always greet him every morning, though once in a while I will be late in going to work and he would already be gone from work. I am sure he wakes up very early as he usually finishes work by around 10 am. Who is he?

I live in Oxley Rise Road in Singapore and for me to get to work I always pass by the underpass from the Istana Park towards the Plaza Singapura. Uncle, for the lack of a name, is how I call him. At first I just smile at him whenever I pass by. He used not to smile at me. Until he has seen me a number of times every morning and for the past two years, I kinda always look forward to greeting him a tentative, Good morning or if I feel a bit brave enough, I would say in Chinese, Cho San (or at least that is how I greet Auntie at work (she is another lady from work who has touched my life).

Anyway, last December, I thought of giving a Christmas gift to Uncle. I bought some NTUC vouchers and for a few days in December, I tried to have the courage to give them to Uncle. Every time I lost the courage. Why?

Well I did not want him to feel 'less privileged' because I am giving him gift. Second, I was a bit afraid to bend the rules here. I am not sure if there is any rule actually about giving gift to someone who you really do not know and in such a public place as the park. Well, not so public as I always see Uncle cleaning the stairs on the underpass and not really in the park.

I ended up keeping the vouchers till I came back in January from my holiday in Manila and more determined to give them to Uncle. So one of the first things I did the first day of going to work was to bring the vouchers, sealed them inside the envelope and looked for Uncle. I was so happy to see him and I greeted him 'Happy New Year and belated Merry Christmas.' And then I held out my hand to him and bowed my head a bit and told him that the envelope is for him, that it is a gift from me to him. Right there and then, he opened it and the look of smile and surprise and gratefulness on his face was enough to make me feel happy that I have made someone else other than myself, my family and close friends and my big baby happy.

Then a week ago, it was my turn to be so surprised. One morning, I was running late and was walking a bit fast and suddenly Uncle appeared before me and was holding out his hands. And there nestled gently were these two Mandarin oranges. I was so stunned. I looked at him and all I could say was xie xie or thank you. He was the first one to have given me the oranges for this coming lunar new year. He must have been waiting for me that morning. I was so touched by his generosity and his thoughtfulness. I am especially touched as I feel that this year indeed, 'more good fortune' is coming my way. Not only in terms of financial rewards, bonus for the hard work the past year, but also bountiful love and just the feeling that this year will indeed be a good year for me. Well, maybe monkeys and rats are good friends! LOL!