The best way to learn is to see, to hear, to feel, to touch, and to taste. This definitely applies to learning a language and its culture.
Do you know I still remember my very first bite of the authentic McDonald's Big Mac in L.A. when I visited the U.S. the very first time many many years ago? It might sound silly but it was quite an experience after hearing about the Big Mac and looking at the pictures of a Big Mac for a while in Taiwan. Food always motivates me and you know the rest of the story I tried all kinds of fast food restaurants and learned many names and words about hamburgers, fried chicken, and seafood. That was very yummy and fun.
My cousin came to the States for a visit from China and took a summer English program in a college a few year ago. He had his first real American hamburger one day and he was thrilled as well. He learned how to order everything on his own in English on his field trip.
When we visit Taiwan, my children would go to the convenience stores to buy snacks and chat with the staff about the snacks they have never seen before in Mandarin Chinese. They also go to the tea house to order their favorite bubble tea on their own. Power of language is so delicious!
Here is a great opportunity for the whole family to enjoy and to explore the Chinese language and Chinese culture during the Chinese New Year celebration this year. The list is arranged by location and each entry is linked to its official event website. Find one event near you. Go out and have some fun! Why not try out the Chinese words, phrases, sentences you know? And make sure you taste some traditional Chinese New Year food.
If you would like to add event location(s) to the CALENDAR OF EVENTS list I put together please feel free to do so in the comment area.
Happy New Year of the Dragon! - lóng nían kuài lè - 龍年快樂! - 龙年快乐！
2012 Year of the DRAGON - Chinese New Year Calendar of Events
in U.S., Canada, Australia
U.S.
California
San Francisco - Chinatown
San Francisco - Chinese New Year Flower Market Fair
San Francisco - Chinese New Year events
San Diego
Los Angeles, California - The Golden Dragon Parade
Los Angeles, California - Asian American Expo Celebrating the Lunar New Year Festivities
Monterey Park, California - Chinese New Year Festival
San Marino, Califonia
Hawaii
Honolulu Chinatown Chinese New Year Festivities
Maryland
Rockville, Maryland-2012 Lunar New Year Celebration
Massachusetts
Massachusetts - Quincy Asian Resources Annual Lunar New Year Festival
New York
New York
Flushing, New York
Texas
Austin, Texas - Chinatown Center Year of the Dragon Celebration
Houston, Texas - Lunar New Year Houston
Virginia
Falls Church - Chinese New Year Festival
Washington DC
Washington DC area
AUSTRALIA
Brisbane - Chinese New Year @ Sunnybank
Sydney - Chinese New Year Festival
Chinese New Year in Australia - Resource website
CANADA
Vancouver, Canada - Chinese New Year Parade and Festival
Picture source: huan tian xi di by zheng xiang
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