Year of the Swake

Min Yu was looking around her school campus, dizzy with excitement. She ran to the library, classroom, gym, music room, and the art room. But there was no sign of any decorations anywhere. Nothing at all! Deflated, she flopped down on a bench by the pine tree.

- Ashima Kaushik

Min Yu was a student from China, and was hoping all her friends at her new school, Mountain Hills International Nainital, would celebrate Chinese New Year just the way she celebrated their festivals with them.

Is it too much to expect? she asked herself.

Min liked the school and its friendly atmosphere from the moment she stepped in. The trees in the campus, the roses climbing up the stone walls, the crisp cold weather, and even some of the food, reminded her of her grandpa's village, Beiji in northern China. The hostel was a lot of fun for her, as children of different nationalities who studied at the school stayed there with her. She was all smiles when she waved goodbye to her parents the day they dropped her there. But now, Min Yu was feeling glum. Sitting on the bench, she thought about her friends. There was Bianca from Austria, Will from Australia, Deena from Egypt, Vera from Russia, Ri from South Korea, and Ross from South Africa, just to name a few. So many nationalities and so many things to celebrate!

“If she made a list of all the important festivals in the world, wouldn’t she have something or the other to celebrate everyday?” Min Yu giggled. But then she immediately scowled, thinking, “Maybe if I had just one other classmate from my own country, I wouldn’t feel so left out. Fine, I’ll just have to tell them how I’d like my New Year celebrated then!”

Min Yu stomped into the canteen to have an honest chat with her friends, but it was empty. Where was everybody?