Festive Times at UD

As someone who eagerly looks forward to the hustle and bustle of the holiday season, this year (understandably) looked a little different. With the world still in the throes of a worldwide pandemic, the most important thing for our family was to prioritize safety and caution. Nevertheless, it was still sad to see that there wouldn’t be the usual fanfare of laughter and warmth that I had grown to associate with these particular months.

The countertops in our house, usually laden with numerous delicious dishes for incoming guests, laid bare for the first time in years. My long hugs turned into FaceTime calls, catch-up conversations held six feet apart across the driveway. But even amidst the unconventional celebrations of the new year, I recognized how much I needed to be grateful for and allowed myself time to reminisce on the amazing times I had gotten to celebrate various holidays with my friends at UD. In particular, I remember one of my favorite memories last year consisted of lantern painting at the Mid-Autumn Festival hosted by VSA.

Whenever I particularly need a destressor activity, I always love to grab a paintbrush and start doodling. It comes to no one’s surprise that I LOVED the idea of lantern painting. It was a delicate enough task that required a bit of a challenge for painting skills, but also leisurely enough that I could easily chat with all my friends while I painted. It was a welcome respite from the chaotic scheduling of daily life, and I was so grateful to be able to spend some time with all my friends. Check out these pictures below of the event!