Greetings from 老挝 (Laos) and 新年快乐 (Happy New Year) to everyone!  This year is 虎年 (the year of the TIger), which marks the end of my own 本命年 (one’s own birth year), said to be the unluckiest/hardest year for people born in that year.  For those of you born in the Year of the Tiger, remember to 戴红色的东西 (wear red things) all year to ward off bad luck.  It may sound strange for the year in which someone was born to be difficult every time the zodiac cycle repeats, but I’d much rather have 1 year out of 12 be difficult than 11 out of 12.  This year I missed a chance at 年夜饭 (New Year’s Eve dinner), but rest assured that 家庭 (families) across China were 团员 (reuniting) for this special occasion.  Here are some other phrases for you to use during the upcoming week:  万事如意! ( may everything go as you wish), 恭喜发财 (may you become prosperous), and for your friends/family still in school, there is also 学业进步 ( may you do better in your studies).

老挝 lao3wo1 – Laos
新年快乐 xin1nian2kuai4le4 – Happy New Year!
虎年 hu3nian2 – Year of the Tiger
本命年 ben3ming4nian2 – one’s own zodiac birth year
戴红色的东西 dai4hong2se4de dong1xi1 – wear something red
年夜饭 nian2ye4fan4 – New Year’s Eve dinner
家庭团员 jia1ting2tuan2yuan2 – family reunion/families reuniting
万事如意 wan4shi4ru2yi4 – May everything go as you wish
恭喜发财 gong1xi3facai2 – May you become prosperous
学业进步 xue2ye4jin4bu4 – May you do better in your studies