The diary of a foreign daughter-in-law during Spring Festival in South China

Jessica and her husband, first from left, peel shrimp with family members at their home in Zhanjiang city, South China's Guangdong province. [Photo provided by Jessica to chinadaily.com.cn]

My husband and I will go there with his brother and sister to barbecue chicken and walk around, enjoying the fresh air and scenery. Strangely enough, you wouldn't believe how many shoes I've found walking along the beach. As we walk along the beach, my husband will take a shovel and net along with him so we can dig for sand crabs and oysters or clams. In the evening, we take our haul back to his parent's house and that's what we call dinner. Watching the sunset from the beach on that island, is a little tradition my husband and I share.

For family traditions on the eve of Spring Festival, my husband will set off firecrackers at midnight and the living room light must be left on all night. From Lunar New Year's Day to the Lantern Festival, my husband must burn incense in the living room and make offerings of rice and oranges.