It used to be that I looked forward to Chinese New Year in Cambridge, and this year especially I was looking forward to the celebrations without the stress and intense practising for lion-dancing. I've had some great times with the lion dance troupe, and made good friends with the members, both past and present. When I decided to leave last year, I was afraid at first that I wouldn't see any of them much anymore and I would have missed them. So I was really very happy to find myself socialising and getting to know my friends better outside of practices.
Lately though, I've been hearing a bit too much about lion-dancing. As far as I can tell, it boils down to insufficient communication between the committee members, and the feeling that some are taking the bulk of the work and stress that comes with CNY more than others. After trying to listen patiently for several weeks (yes, weeks), and resisting the urge to butt in, all I can say is 'why can't you guys sit down and talk about it and sort it out amongst yourselves?!!!'. As a friend, I'm happy to listen about problems they might have, and sympathesize. As an ex-coach/ex-president/ex-almost everything I'm also willing to give my advice when asked. But I keep finding myself being placed in the most difficult of situations, being asked for advice in a friend capacity. Frankly, I know them too well to be impartial, nor can I step in and help because, even if I had the time, it would be rude and stepping on people's toes. It is not my responsibility nor my inclination.
I'm starting to find myself avoiding social events where I might see more than a certain number of lion-dancers together in the same place. An impossible situation as I spend a lot of my time with Malaysians. I'm also starting to feel resentful, because I can't seem to look forward to Chinese New Year, nor can I relax when the subject of lion-dancing is brought up. Most of the lion-dancers don't discuss lion dancing with me, other than inviting me to watch their performances or making light talk, but I feel myself tensing up whenever I hear 'lion' and 'dance' in the same sentence, even if it's 'lion cubs' and 'dancing with wolves'. Perhaps when I hear about 'leona lewis dancing in a new mtv' I will find my shoulder muscles bunching up.
Anyway, perhaps it's my fault for getting too involved. There's no particular reason why I should feel responsible. I might just hide under my bedclothes and avoid them all this weekend. Wake me up in the New Year please.
Lately though, I've been hearing a bit too much about lion-dancing. As far as I can tell, it boils down to insufficient communication between the committee members, and the feeling that some are taking the bulk of the work and stress that comes with CNY more than others. After trying to listen patiently for several weeks (yes, weeks), and resisting the urge to butt in, all I can say is 'why can't you guys sit down and talk about it and sort it out amongst yourselves?!!!'. As a friend, I'm happy to listen about problems they might have, and sympathesize. As an ex-coach/ex-president/ex-almost everything I'm also willing to give my advice when asked. But I keep finding myself being placed in the most difficult of situations, being asked for advice in a friend capacity. Frankly, I know them too well to be impartial, nor can I step in and help because, even if I had the time, it would be rude and stepping on people's toes. It is not my responsibility nor my inclination.
I'm starting to find myself avoiding social events where I might see more than a certain number of lion-dancers together in the same place. An impossible situation as I spend a lot of my time with Malaysians. I'm also starting to feel resentful, because I can't seem to look forward to Chinese New Year, nor can I relax when the subject of lion-dancing is brought up. Most of the lion-dancers don't discuss lion dancing with me, other than inviting me to watch their performances or making light talk, but I feel myself tensing up whenever I hear 'lion' and 'dance' in the same sentence, even if it's 'lion cubs' and 'dancing with wolves'. Perhaps when I hear about 'leona lewis dancing in a new mtv' I will find my shoulder muscles bunching up.
Anyway, perhaps it's my fault for getting too involved. There's no particular reason why I should feel responsible. I might just hide under my bedclothes and avoid them all this weekend. Wake me up in the New Year please.
4 則留言:
i'm sure it will be all fine in the end... don't worry! :P
also, the other day i went to the zoo and saw some lions. after that i went to salsa.
i am curious to find out if you find this tensing.
I have an image of you salsa-dancing with lions. If only this was a Disney film.
As you said, it was all fine in the end. ^_^ (I'm adopting a positive outlook for the new year... but I'm also sleepy. Does that mean I'll be sleepy all year?)
The new lions look damn cool!! Plus they got new flags!!
where did you see photos of the new lions?
It's funny, one of the new lions is gold and the other is silver. Chris loves the gold one, but all of the rest of us prefer the silver.
The flags aren't new though, it's just that Allan spent several hours regluing the words back on. :D
發佈留言