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Today is February 11, 2024. We're here in Chinatown at the Wahluck House, for Chinese New Year doing an interview. So, my name is Doris, what's your name? My name is Jack Lee.

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Jack Lee. Okay. So do you live in Chinatown? I was born and raised in Chinatown, but I currently live in

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the suburbs. And why did you decide to come to the parade today? Well, I've been doing the praise part of two organizations, Chinese Youth Club, and the Chinese

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Consolidated Benevolent Association. When I was a young kid, I started with CYC doing the parade when I lived here, and that's why I continue that tradition, so to speak.

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Great. How do you normally celebrate Chinese New Year? Well, we do a few traditional things. To celebrate Chinese New Year's.

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Of course, we do the dinner on Chinese New Year's Eve to finish the old deer And then we'll do another dinner, probably in a couple of weeks to bring in the new year.

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And in between, as part of the Chinese youth club, I participate in doing line dance programs around the, you know, DC, Virginia, and Maryland area. And, what are some other traditions that you have during

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the New Year? Well, the one tradition we always do is not my favorite is cleaning the house. So, you know, we go through the whole house. You I mean, we clean as thorough as we can, top to bottom.

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Throw away some old stuff and and just do everything to get the house ready. Uh-huh. And what is Chinatown's significant to you?

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Like, what's its meaning to you? Well, Chinatown will always be have a special place in my heart being born and raised here. You know, the Chinatown you see now is not like the Chinatown I grew up in.

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It was more of a community, a village. And, you know, I could sit out on the steps and see the elders and see the young people I play with

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my friends and family, It was just a wholesome atmosphere. Yeah. And so you've noticed these changes listed Chinatown.

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Have you ever noticed any changes in how new celebrated here as well? Well, you know, back when we first started, the Lunar New Year parade wasn't a big parade.

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It was more of a, the traditional going around to most businesses to do the lion dance, to help them bring in the new year. And what does the year of the

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dragon mean to you? Well, I'm not born a year of the dragon. I'm a snake, so I'm a little partial to being a snake.

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But the dragon knowing what the tradition brings, you know, dragons are very strong mythical creatures. So we expect a very strong and

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prosperous year. And what are your hopes for the new year's other than the prosperity? Well, you know, my biggest hope at my age now is good health, right,

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good health is more important. My son just got married, so I'm hoping that they have a great start for the new year. And I just just hope for everyone to just have good health first and

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then prosperity later. Yeah. Thank you so much. Okay.