Chinese New Year in Malaysia | A memory (2018)

I've never celebrated Chinese New Year with anyone before until the Deaf Malaysian community invited me along to celebrate with them. During the year of 2018 (year of the dog), I learned about their traditional cultural practices for Chinese New Year, including yu shang (known as Prosperity Toss, Yee Sang, etc.).
Although I didn't talk much in the video, I love the energy, the warmth, and love from these Deaf Malaysians that I befriended with. This is one of the fondest memories I have while traveling.
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[@adamhasny8148]

Happy Chinese new year to everyone 💚

[@celupbong7835]

Very nice memory..next time you visit Kuching(Borneo) I will give you an "angpow" too, a "Love blessings" for your safe travels ya🤟

[@DeafinitelyWanderlust]

[The majority of the film will be taken place inside a restaurant in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. A mixed-gender group of 12 Deaf people. 10 are local Deaf Malaysian. The last two is Jason, an Asian-American male, and Stacey, a light-skinned Mexican-American who owns Deafinitely Wanderlust. All are sitting at the round dinner table. On the center of the table, it has a rotating tray which providing convenience for passing the dishes. Two Deaf Malaysian females will be talking the majority throughout this film. A woman, named Josephine, who is light-brown skinned female with short jet black hair. She’s wearing a dark grey t-shirt with a white watch on her left wrist. Another is Mama Jo, who is a light-skinned who is in her late 60s. Her jet-black hair is tied back into a ponytail. She’s wearing a grey graphic shirt with three centered emojis. Two smiling emojis and one shocked emoji with sunglasses. Below the emojis said “No problem.”]
[Clips of Deaf Malaysians & Stacey’s adventure in Malaysia]
[Cut to a group of Deaf people at the round dinner table in a restaurant and close film shots of Malaysian food. On the top right, a black text appeared “Filmed in 2018” with a dog emoji. Stacey waved away at the camera. On the bottom right, a animated black circle appeared with three social media logos of Facebook, Instagram, and CZcams. “@deafinitelywanderlust.”]
Josephine: Ready!?!?!
go!!
[Screen splitted diagonally. On the left, a plate of Yee Sang is shown. A raw fish salad that is assorted with raw fish, shredded colorful vegetables, etc. Josephine resumed talking on the right side of the screen.]
Josephine: You'll be tossing this.
This food is called
[Splitted screen ended]
Yee Sang.
[On the top left, a black animated box appeared with white text: “Yee Sang. Also known as Prosperity Toss, Yusheng (followed by in Chinese characters), etc.”]
This is a Chinese tradition.
[On the top left, a black animated box appeared with white text: “A tradition in Malaysia (Malaysian flag emoji) & Singapore (Singaporean flag emoji). It’s also seen in other countries.”]
We do this before the new year.
The meaning of Yee Sang is
wealth.
to earn money.
good health (vigor)
business success.
family.
to bring good luck into our lives.
there are many more meanings/symbolism
It's also to wish upon a better year.
A better year than the last year.
[Screen split into half. On the left, a plate of Yee Sang is shown. Josephine resumed talking on the right side of the screen.]
There are different ingredients
carrot. [an animated label appeared, “carrot” as it pointed to it on the plate]
we'd shred the carrots
fish. [an animated label appeared, “fish” as it pointed to it another video of a sliced fish]
This one is like...
ginger. [an animated label appeared, “ginger” as it pointed to it on the plate]
which is sour.
there are a little bit of nuts [an animated label appeared, “nuts & seeds” as it pointed to it on the plate]
and seeds that are spread around here
Cucumbers. [an animated label appeared, “dried cucumbers” as it pointed to it on the plate.]
we'd shred them very thin
and have them very dried [Another faded black appeared on the center of the plate: “and more!”]
[screen now split into half horizontally. Josephine resumed talking on the top of the screen. On the bottom of the screen, it shows a hand squeezing limes onto the sliced fish, assorting sliced fish on the center of the plate and pouring plum sauce on Yee Sang.]
Next to yee sang, there is a plum sauce.
and the lime will be squeezed on yee sang
this is because the fish smells, so we don't want that
so, we'll add the lime and plum sauce on the fish
then you'll not able to smell it.
then you can toss it!
[split screen ended]
Ready?!
[a short shot of a light-brown skinned Malaysian female who has a short hair with a bang. She’s wearing a glasses and red collared shirt.]
female: You'll notice that tossing yee sang will be pretty messy!
[clips of tossing Yee Sang]
[Jason is wearing a touristic graphic black shirt of a street art of Georgetown in Malaysia. On the top right, an animated black circle appeared with white text: “Jason Hoang.” followed by two social media logos of Facebook and Instagram. “@jasonhoangfit”]
Jason: It's their cultural tradition
to toss the raw fish salad (yee sang)
it's my first time seeing this!
You see, I grew up in the USA
with Chinese traditions,
yeah, but the thing is that
I practiced Chinese traditions liberally
so it was interesting to see this. My first time!
[clips of a group who are chatting with each other]
Mama Jo: Here, it's not a tradition to take the fish salad
and put it on your own plate.
It's fine to do it at home.
Josephine: yes, she's right.
Mama Jo: It's okay to do it at home, because
the different colors have different meanings in our lives
When each person who sits at the table are
a family member or relative,
we all come together once a year.
Josephine: that's right.
and each colorful ingredient has different taste,
sour, sweet, and everything else
we all come together happily to celebrate
and enjoy chatting with everyone.
but in this situation, we aren't family members.
we all friends who come together to celebrate.
You haven't gotten married.
You haven't gotten married.
You haven't gotten married.
You already did (shooing them)
those who are married aren't getting hong bao.
Those who are unmarried and visited my home,
I used to give hong bao (red envelopes).
But there is an exception for those who are visiting
like Stacey and Jason,
who will be leaving Malaysia.
then it's an exception, I'll give you hong bao.
And at the same time, if you're visiting my home,
you have to give me TWO oranges.
NEVER ONE ORANGE.
You know, there's an egg, right?
but does the ball (testicle) have one egg?
no, there are TWO eggs. *teasing*
So, two oranges need to be given.
and it is because
A couple consists of two people.
we don't want to be alone, right?
so, when you greet at my house,
two oranges mean a nice symbolism
okay, everyone?
is that clear?
[on the top left, an animated black circle appeared with white text: “you cannot open hongbao (red envelope) until the first day of new year”]
Josephine: One the first day of new year,
you can open hong bao.
but today, you cannot open it
you can't peek inside until the day of new year
you have to wait till the 16th (date of 2018)
then you can open it!
cry about it or whatever you usually do.
[Mama jo is standing and waiting for Jason to say something before giving hongbao. Jason is looking at her while sitting.]
Jason: Gong Xi Fa Cai! (Happy New Year!)
Mama Jo: he knows how to say it! (clapping)
I wish you a long life.
I hope you will give birth to many kids
Mama Jo: pregnant every now and then, that fast?!
Mama Jo: that's funny!
Jason: thank you, mama Jo
[a very close shot of Stacey who is talking to Mama Jo. Her face isn’t shown except her smile.]
Stacey: I wish you the best health,
happiness,
and love!
[on the top left, an animated red circle appeared with white text: “thank you, everyone, friends, for your love & warmth.”]
Jason: I feel home...
[cut to a dark blue teal and white frame with a centered video of Stacey who is walking through a geopark in Taiwan. In the yellow frame, a white text appeared on the top center: “follow or subscribe for more stories!” The logo of Facebook, Instagram, CZcams and Twitter are also shown on the top left of the video screen with “@deafinitelywanderlust.” On the bottom center of the white frame, it says “www.deafinitelywanderlust.com”]

[@DeafinitelyWanderlust]

CC VOLUNTEERS: If you are interested to translate International Sign or ASL to any language, please feel free! You can create CC via my video yourself or you can send me .SRT file via email ([e-mail]). I’d love Spanish, Korean, Chinese (traditional or simplified), Hindi, etc. Thank you!

[@haoyu1145]

Hello.. Your deaf?

[@DeafinitelyWanderlust]

yes, deaf.