I thought I knew almost everything about my ethnicity and identity, but there is always more. Embarking on a journey about my identity, I attended the Chinese Cultural Festival in Washington, DC, which not only made me feel more connected to my culture but also left a mark on my heart that I will always cherish. The festival was a bold celebration for me and people like me, filled with vibrance and pride.
When I first walked into the festival, I immediately noticed many things I had not seen since my last trip to China. All kinds of delicious foods, decorations, and small events were everywhere I looked. I was surrounded by countless people who looked like me. Beautiful photos of landscapes were placed in long rows throughout the event, showcasing pictures from heavenly landmarks to busy shop streets. I looked at the pictures, trying to remember if I had been to any of those places. The more I looked, the more I realized there was so much to experience, so I quickly got started.
The first thing I did was explore all the familiar things I vividly remember, such as traditional decorations, my favorite foods, and dances, along with some of the things I did not know as much, like Chinese paper cutting and some types of traditional clothes.
Different shades and hues of elegant red and gold greeted me from the white booths, and decorations engraved with patterns lit up the scene. I remember walking into dozens of booths, curious about all the items and delicacies, all representing a part of who I am.
One of my main highlights was exploring different foods from my culture. In particular, I enjoyed trying strawberry and grape TangHulu for the first time. I loved biting into the warm sugar coat and the sweet, candied fruits. Additionally, I tried BingFen, which had a unique jello-like texture. It tasted a bit sweet but simple, different from the other foods I tried. I also ate BaoZi (one of my favorites), lamb skewers, roast duck, and more. Most were a breeze to order, while others were hard to get because of the long lines of people, mainly at the crowded lamb skewers booth. Since there were quite a few people, we ate on the benches with fewer people on a slight slope, a short pathway from the booths, which were more spacious. All the different tastes soon added up to our lunch, which was mouth-watering and flavorful. I also enjoyed many of the same foods I ate that day, and some of them were not at the festival, such as TangYuan and Udon, which I love having at home.
Towards the end of my visit, I watched a few dances, including the lion dance. In the last part of this performance, the people in the lions stood on top of each other, making the lions do the same. Likewise, I watched the dragon dance, which looked beautiful with its different patterns and motions. There were other performances, too, like the traditional Beijing Opera, which was special to me because this was my first time seeing it. I was fascinated by all the dances and performances, which were all unique in their own way.
In addition, I got to spend time with my family members, which was memorable for my brothers, Luca and Ethan, and myself because this was our first time at a Chinese festival. Although my brothers are little, one being two years old and the other only four months old, they seemed to enjoy it, too. I loved sharing these special moments with my family, and it brought us all together.
In conclusion, I enjoyed the festival; It felt like I was back in China. I loved diving deeper into my culture and being surrounded by pieces of my home from across the globe. The festival let me appreciate and acknowledge my Chinese culture and has taught me to celebrate and show all aspects of myself. It makes me proud to know that my culture is so beautiful and special and that it will always be a part of me that I will never lose. This experience has created valuable memories and shaped my spirit as my identity unfolds.
