*Ah-for, my grandma -Cindy

born in 1992/12/17

At 29 year-old, I lost my grandma. The one who brought me up when my parents were busy working. We spent every day together before I went to secondary school. Sometimes I even thought she was my mother.

I grew up on a small island called Peng Chau in Hong Kong. An island allows no cars but only bikes, with only 3,000 residents. Every morning my grandma would wake up at 5 o’clock and go to the seaside to buy fresh vegetables before sunrise.

"Ah-for*, why do you have to go there so early for vegetables?"

I asked.

"Because it's cheap. And they are only there before sunrise!"

Grandma answered.

I didn't know at that time but when I grew up, I finally found out that she was actually buying the vegetables from some smuggling boats from China... Because she always saw many people coming from that seaside with bags of vegetables, so one day she decided to follow the people and then she became one of them.

My grandma was always very smart and sharp, even before she passed away. Although she didn't speak proper Cantonese, she literally made friends with everyone on the island. She even made it to the US without knowing any English but just a simple hello.

Everyone loved my grandma. And my grandma loved everyone too. She always reminded me to treat people well with a good heart no matter who he or she is. I wish I could be like my grandma one day.

2021 for me is a year to remember but also a year to restart. I don't know how 2022 will flow but one thing is for sure: At 29 year-old and onwards, I will never lose my grandma again.  Because she is always in my heart. Thank you for everything and the lesson, my beloved Ah-for*!

*Ah-for = Grandma in Hainanese

30±1살,

[Ah-for, my grandma]

written by CINDY CHAN

@behindthecin

CINDY CHAN, born in 1992/12/17