jenny-85Instead of having the usual presents under the Christmas tree, I had food. Lots and lots of food. No presents in colorfully wrapped boxes. Just food. And I was so very happy. You know the song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas”? My version goes like this: “On the first day of Christmas my parents gave to me: a big bowl of noodles with crab meat!”  Then shumai and porkbuns! Imagine my joy.

I hope all of you are enjoying the break as much as I am. I know my stomach is.  The first day I got home and had a bowl of hot, steamy rice, I cried. I’m not lying. It was THAT good. To those of you who will go to college away from home, check if rice cookers are allowed in your dorm. If not…well, some people bring them anyway. I’m just saying. Ahem. Moving on.

College apps are done or almost done. I know it’s been hard and you probably will never want to write another essay, but all of you should apply for scholarships. Don’t just aim for the larger, more well-known scholarships. Go for the small amounts, too. Chances are, many other college applicants were thinking “I should apply for the bigger scholarship because it will save time!” Nope, not all the time. More well-known scholarships mean more competition, too, you know. Go for the big ones, but also go for the smaller ones for backup. And in college, you’ll come to realize that even $100 is important. So work on those scholarships! It’ll save your parents money. I have a younger sibling that will attend college soon, too, so I’m looking for scholarships to take some of the burden off my parents.

Happy New Year’s everybody! Stuff yourselves, that’s what people do on holidays. Enjoy your break with your loved ones!