Qi Paos

So… its that time of year again… throngs of people rushing to buy their New Year’s presents, Christmas lights strung in all variety of ways (making everything look “lit up like a Christmas tree” but it’s really lit up for the Lunar New Year!), fireworks, red envelopes, and new clothes. For the Johnson girlies it was time to head to the tailor to have this year’s qi pao (sounds like: chee pow) made for their New Year’s performance at school.

It was so cold inside the tailor’s that we kept our hats and coats on (until the final moment when the measuring takes place!) Chinese buildings are usually not heated and to compensate locals don several layers, tote hot water bottles, and keep their loose green tea covered in boiling water.

Selecting the silk fabric traditionally used for qi paos.

Eliza' signs her name in Chinese on the order form.

Taking Eliza's measurments.

and Millie's measurments.