Tet away from home | SAIGON GIAI PHONG NEWSPAPER

The short conversation between mother and son made my heart strangely quiet. Perhaps, I have never treasured the moments with my family so much. Being away from home for three years, pursuing the so-called dream, the artistic path, but forgetting the so-called family. Three years studying away from home, for everyone, going home for Tet is simple and easy, but for me, it is a whole world of longing.

Little children look forward to every minute, every second to return to the warm home they call home, to lean on their parents' arms to tell them about their frustrations in life, about their achievements, about their unforgettable trips. What about their parents? They also look forward to their children's return every day. All year long, they work hard, worry about every meal, raise their children to study, there is not a single day that parents do not look forward to their children. Promising each other to have a family reunion meal seems easy but is actually so difficult.

I remember when I was a child, every time Tet came, I would chatter and ask my mother to take me to the market to buy things for Tet. I went to the market to buy shrimp, fish, meat to make special dishes, and some dong leaves to wrap banh chung. I remember it strangely. Going with my mother, I couldn't help but stop by the shops to have some banh loc, banh beo, and some fried dough sticks before returning home. Sometimes I would buy some snacks for my younger siblings. Every time like that, my father at home would grumble about why we were gone for so long. I just smiled. The children in the house were happy because their mother bought them banh chung.

A cozy New Year's Eve dinner with family. We argue, laugh together, eat and reminisce about the past year. What have we done?

The younger siblings stayed at home with Dad, helping with cleaning the house and decorating the plants. After coming back from the market, I also helped them. One mopped the floor, one swept the trash, and one tidied up the long table and chairs in the house that we called a nightmare. The sisters laughed and talked happily, very happy. This year, Dad went to the ornamental plant market early so he chose a big peach tree with a big trunk. Dad trimmed it, decorated it with colorful lucky money envelopes and a few peace balls to wish the family all the best in the new year.

Every spring, my mother would go to the kitchen to prepare a New Year's Eve meal to gather all the family members together. Every year, the meal tray always had my sister's favorite meat jelly, my father's Thai Binh brawn, and the root soup with shrimp that I wanted. Only when winter came, my mother would go to the backyard to dig up the biggest, firmest roots to make soup. My uncles who lived far away often joked that it was porridge served with rice, but the best. I miss root soup so much. Because no matter where I went, I ate many delicious and unique dishes, I could never forget the root soup my mother cooked. Root soup was carefully selected by my mother, grated to cook with ground river shrimp. That was the most delicious, warmest New Year's Eve meal in the family.

Thai Binh's shrimp root soup is cooked by my mother with minced shrimp, adding some herbs such as coriander, cilantro, and green onions for a rich flavor. This dish is often eaten during Tet or cold winters. People from other hometowns often joke that this is porridge served with rice.

That meal was the meal where we shared what we had done in the past years, what we had missed out on, and our goals for the new year. That meal was also filled with laughter, arguing over food, and fighting over who could serve rice to our parents. I miss the days when I helped my mother cook and washed piles of dishes when eating at relatives' houses. I miss them so much!

Wandering around, living in many places, freely eating and drinking, sleeping when tired, eating when hungry, but never being able to hear the scolding and scolding of mother, or the comforting and soothing of father. Sometimes just craving a meal - called a family meal.

It was only a few short days back home, but it left a lot of emotions in me. Coming home, eating and sleeping with my parents, seeing that they were no longer healthy, with their hair already streaked with gray, my heart ached. Are my parents really old?

Many people feel that Tet is a time to rest, to go to peaceful places, to travel after months of hard work. But…. the most peaceful place is probably home. Parents are still waiting for us to return.

Those who still have a home and a family should come back when Tet comes. Because parents are still waiting for us to return. Children living far away from home crave family meals, crave the scene of celebrating New Year's Eve with their parents, gathering around to wrap and look after the cakes. Many times, seeing people return to their families, I also want to feel that way. I also feel very lucky to realize that I still have my family to rely on.

Three years away from home, three years without being able to return home for Tet, without being able to hug my parents. Another year is about to pass, so many beautiful memories still remain. I will have to try harder, have more determination to turn into strength to complete my work well so that I can return to my beloved family. Tet is coming, everyone should take advantage of the time to go home if you can, don't let your parents wait. Wishing you a warm and happy Tet with your family.

HOANG THI CAM THU

Diem Dien Town - Thai Thuy District - Thai Binh Province

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