Feb 24, 2015 Happy Chinese New Year from Chinatown
I didn’t even plan on attending Saturday’s Chinese New Year parade in Chinatown until our daughter’s elementary school coordinator asked my wife Wendy and me if we were going. It was the next day, and he said that Eloise could hold the school’s banner. How could we say no, and it would be convenient to take some colorful parade pictures to share while I was at it–empty cherub heads, antique cars, religious protestors, and who knows what else.
After circling the parade start on Saturday morning, we located the Castelar students tagging along with a lion dance troupe. Fourth and fifth graders (along with some instructors and our new principal) would zigzag up the street carrying the poles of the serpentine dragon while little kids like Eloise proudly displayed the school’s name.
When my wife pointed out that Mayor Eric Garcetti was situated nearby, I ducked under a rope and inquired if he’d take a photo with the schoolkids from Castelar. I wasn’t afraid to ask because I live in the district that he used to represent and have been introduced to him on a few occasions. I’m a big fan of his accomplishments in our neighborhood and his pride on our city’s diverse and creative culture, and I also knew he couldn’t say no to a photo-op with children. A liaison came over to ask me where to direct him. Sweet!
But wait, there was more. Shortly after photos were taken, the liaison returned and asked me if some of the students and a chaperone would like to ride with the mayor. Eloise was the first one to hop in the 1953 Imperial, which has been occupied by previous mayors on similar occasions, followed by two friends and a teacher.
Because I followed the mayor’s car up Hill Street and down Broadway taking photos of Eloise all the way, I don’t have any images of marching bands, beauty queens, or martial artists to post. I’m sorry. But it was a pretty awesome moment for Eloise, who waved and smiled like a champ along with her friends who said happy new year in English, Mandarin, and Spanish into a microphone for the entire ride. The mayor was very cool to the kids, and chitchatted and waved with them throughout.
I knew going to school in Chinatown would be a great experience for Eloise. The teachers are excellent, her classmates are amazing, and she’s learning Mandarin. But I never considered the poetry of Wendy and me spending more time in the neighborhood where my immigrant grandparents and in-laws have hung out. To enter the fabric of that community and give back to it–whether it’s getting the school represented on the mayor’s car, creating a scene and raising money for Castelar’s music program through the benefit concerts we started throwing, or simply helping out with kids being dropped off in the morning–has been very rewarding and cool, indeed.
Our first week in the Year of the Sheep has already been loaded with family, opportunity, and surprises. And a lot of food. I hope yours is, too. Gung hay fat choy!
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