A Lunar New Year Adventure!

It was an early morning for the Lunar New Year Outing, but students buzzed with excitement and hunger as chatter filled the air. The bus was filled with conversations about what our friends planned to eat, which stores to check out, or whether brunch would be worth missing. 

It was safe to say many of us enjoyed our hot pot bowls! “I’ve been thinking about hot pot all week! I know this will be worth it,” said Justin S, Rogers ‘26. The energy was contagious; even those who were still half-asleep perked up as the thought of sizzling broth and fresh ingredients set the tone for a day of delicious food, cultural celebrations, and shopping. 

When we arrived at Big Way Hot Pot, appetites were high. Grade 12s got to grab their bowls first, followed by the 11s, 10s, and 9s. The counters were brimming with all kinds of ingredients: thinly sliced deluxe cuts of meat, fresh vegetables, fish balls, mini sausages, and all the condiments you could imagine. As students and teachers carefully built their ideal hot pot bowl, we took turns guessing how much it would cost before weighing it. Once the bowls were served one by one, tables filled with joyful smiles as classmates waited together, tasting each other's broths and laughing over who added too much spice. 

A big thank you goes out to Ms Yang, Ms Gage, and Insuk for making this trip possible and for ensuring everything ran smoothly. Our time together was not only efficient and well-planned but also filled with lots of eagerness and accomplishment. “It was a wonderful experience seeing all of the students enjoy their meals while seeing the traditional dances in Downtown Victoria!” said Ms Yang.

After lunch, we headed downtown to explore Victoria’s Lunar New Year celebrations. The streets were alive with colourful decorations, music, and the rhythmic beat of drums as a traditional dragon wound its way down the street. Students wandered the bustling streets, buying new snacks for their dorm room, browsing the vintage shops, and soaking up the sunshine. By the end of the day, we returned to the bus with happy smiles, full stomachs, and plenty of great memories. Deborah Y, Alex ‘27 commented, “It was a perfect way to spend a Sunday with the sun shining!”  

Good food and great company made the Lunar New Year outing a celebration of community and culture. 

Fiona C, Hope ‘26