Undergraduate / "electronic hoa mai plant" - Colgate on Diversity - Tết [4]

Hello all,
This is my Colgate Supplement essay on diversity. I included the prompt below. My primary concern is grammar (verb tense, word choice, punctuation, etc.) However, I would love to have feedbacks on the essay itself in term of organization, ideas, and how to improve it. It is due tomorrow (1/15). Please read and comment as soon as possible. Thanks so much for those who comment.

Colgate: We honor the many different forms of diversity in our community. Your perspective is valuable because it comes from your life experiences, family background, culture, and traditions. Please tell us about a tradition that is important to you that comes from your family, community, or culture.

"Thi ơi, dậy đi con." My mom woke me up with her soft voice as usual, but today was the special day: the first day of the Lunar New Year, Tết. It was the year of the Pig. When I realized it was finally Tết, I woke up right away and got myself ready in ten minutes, just like any other other kid would on Christmas. I ran to the living room where my family was waiting for me to start the family tradition: the adults give the children "lucky" money and the children greet them with wishes for the new year, and then we take family pictures.

Four years ago was the last time I had Tết with my family. I miss the excitement and the spirit of getting ready for such a big event. I miss the food, the smell of flowers, and I especially miss my family. I still remember my mom decorating the house with a vibrant yellow from the Ochna integerrima-the hoa mai plant as we call it, the marigolds, chrysanths, and some red from poinsettia. Yellow and red are the primary colors of Tết, and on this day, they liven up my usually dull house and it's beige walls and furniture. Tết was the time for enjoying great food. I put on some weight in three days of Tết, after having to eat sticky rice cakes with meat and bean filling, giň lụa-the Vietnamese sausage, and sweet rice dishes. And yet, the best part was receiving lucky money from the adults. Excitement overwhelmed me as my mom gave me the red envelope; I could hardly calm myself.

Now, being half way around the world, I can never replicate the Tết spirit, but I try to fill up the gap. I have an electronic hoa mai plant on my computer screen next to a countdown clock; my sister gives me electronic lucky money through Facebook. I turn on Skype and wish my family back home a happy new year.