Claude Gauvin is the wife of a diplomat and lives in Beijing. She
celebrated the 2009 New Year in Beijing and will do it again this year.

Any China expat who has witnessed recent Year of the Ox, Rat or Pig usually takes pride in having the authentic Chinese experience under their belt, and enjoys sharing their tales of food, drink and deafening fireworks to wide-eyed newcomers or tourists.

"It was crazy; I've never seen anything like it in my life. I've lived in provinces all over Canada and I've also lived in Budapest and even that wasn't that crazy!"

Claude Gauvin is a diplomat's wife who was awed by the fireworks last year in Beijing. Lighting fireworks is not for the inexperienced, however, and her husband tried to light fireworks himself and ended up burning his hand. This year, she will be watching the fireworks from a safe distance at the Drum Tower in Beijing, said to be one of the best views in town.

Most of the time, new expats admit they are merely trying to gain an understanding of what is going on and what the Chinese people are doing. In fact, it's not uncommon to see them wandering the streets checking out all the commotion and snapping pictures in giddy excitement and disbelief of the sheer amount of fireworks.