Rita Wang (‘24), Tianjin, China 

Rita has decided to eat a big dinner with her grandparents and visit other relatives over the course of the Spring Festival. Everyone in her family must stay awake until 12 a.m. to count down to the Chinese New Year. The second new year begins, dumplings are dropped into boiling water, ready to be eaten in 15 minutes. Her home city specializes in vegetarian dumplings, including radish, mushrooms, tofu, and Chinese cabbage. The rest of her family will then stay up until 3 a.m. playing 麻将 (ma jiang), Mahjong cards. Her mother creates a delicious, steamed prawns and garlic dish, which Rita is fond of.  

“Can you imagine taking a bite of shrimp that’s fully soaked in juice?” Rita said. “It brings you pleasure you can’t describe in words.”