To prepare for class I wiki-ed Halloween (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Halloween). I didn’t have a firm handle on the origins of Halloween and its traditions and I wanted to be prepared. Intriguing article by the way, really sad that most reported cases of candy poisoning actually turn out to be the child’s parent’s fault.

1st class: I begin by explaining the origins of Halloween, the Celtic belief that on October 31st the Spirit world had power to cross into the real world and haunt the living . People would dress up to scare the spirits and keep evil at bay. Halloween began being celebrated in America in the 1840’s when the Irish, fleeing from the potato famine, brought over many traditions.

We still dress in costumes today but not all are scary. It is a time now to dress up in fun costumes that can represent anything.

Jack-o-Lanterns we originally carved into turnips and were passed of a fable about a man named Jack who tricked the Devil into the trunk of a tree and then was cursed to roam the earth with the only light he had at the time a candle.

2nd class: By the second class I had dropped the part about Halloween being brought over by the Irish and where Jack-o-Lanterns originated from.

3rd class: The Celtic tradition was gone by the third class, it was just getting to hard to explain and they really didn’t get it.

4th class: I think I finally had the structure down but trying to explain costumes to a culture who never dresses up is depressing. I would ask them to think about what they would be if they went trick-or-treating, it was liking pull teeth! For heaven sakes who doesn’t have a costume on the tip of the tongue? Even if that might not be really what you want can’t you just think of something, anything?

5th class: I had watered it down even further and just gave examples of what we did rather than try to explain why we did it. Costumes: Scary outfits most popular, Children often wear fun costumes. Parties: Bobbing for Apples, the String game (what do we call that game?), watch a scary movie or go to a haunted house. Jack-o-Lanterns a fun tradition to scare away evil spirits.

6th class: To be honest I’m glad I had watered it down because the last time I gave the lesson it was to my most difficult class. I had a hard time keeping their attention with this version. I can’t imagine if they had been my first class.

The blackboard by the end of the lesson.

This morning six students came over and watched the big National Day parade with me.

Chairman hu jin tao

Air Show above the parade

View of troops passing Tienanmen Square

Amphibious Tank procession

Military Salutes throughout the parade

Floats and Dancers comprising the second half of the parade.

I just couldn’t get over all the colors! This was a great year to come to China. Only on the 10 year anniversaries are the celebrations as large and spectacular as this.

Some side notes, the troops who marched had practiced for an entire year for this parade. The soldiers were all selected based on height so that the rows were perfect. It was an amazing parade.

Sunday night we were invited to attend a Reception for Foreign Visitors in Weifang. It was quite an event to say the least. We each received a formal invitation and official name tag to wear to the event.

Name tag and Formal Invitation

Inside of the Invitation

The Banquet Hall

We found our table and were slightly surprised at the seating arrangements. I had been seated next to Adam with Dantzelle across the table, not really sure why but as seating is assigned and has traditional significance none of us were going to switch seats around.

My name translated into Chinese.

I would like to take a moment to brag about our Wai Ban*. James bends over backwards for us and I don’t thank him enough. He is especially kind when it comes to banquets and our drinks. China is the land of Tea and toasts I have come to discover, which can be slightly difficult as a Latter-Day Saint as I neither drink tea nor alcohol. James always kindly sorts out the necessary accommodations prior to the meal and substitutions are made. Sprite for the toasts and my new favorite, hot water instead of tea. I must admit I’ve never appreciated abstaining from alcohol more in my life then when attending banquets. The goal of a good host is to get the guests as drunk as possible. (please see the toast section on the Uniquely China page) 

Traditional Chinese music.

 

Now for my favorite part of all banquets the parade of food that is only consumed on special occasions. I wonder if they serve these things at banquets because no one really likes them but every one is to afraid to say something so they just put it on the banquet list so they only have to to eat them a few times a year.

 

Rather than bore with a long list of foods I just touched on the two highlights for the evening. . .

Fish, this dish signals the near ending of the dinner.

 By now whole fish no longer surprises. I’m still not great at getting any meat without the bones, it seems that if I go shallow and I get only skin and if I dig deep I can’t help but  get the bone. Chopsticks are NOT convenient for everything, I don’t care what the Chinese say on this subject.  

A Chinese Delicacy?

Will someone please tell me how slugs made the delicacy list! Wait Sea Cucumber that’s right if we give something thing a nice name with a vegetable word that makes it edible.

I can now officially say I’ve eaten a Sea Cucumber. Boy am I glad I started eating before I knew what it was. This is a rather expensive and highly prized delicacy ergo a real TREAT! Yeah let me please define treat for the Chinese, something delicious, mouth watering and something you might crave in a dream. The pictured food does not belong in any of the a fore mentioned categories. I did eat half to be polite. I’m sorry when I eat it is all about texture and slugs just don’t cut it!

The Head Table

Our table was right in front which is nice because we got a clear view of all the entertainment. At the head table were all the big leaders, Mayor, Communist Party Representative, Korean, Russian, British Big Businessmen and off course the big hitters from Weifang Business.

I don't want to know how many toasts they did.

Toasts to all. Toast after toast was made at each table. Each table joined in on the banquet toast then had their own table toasts.

During the meal the Mayor and a few other head table members circulated the room and had toasts with each table individually. I don’t even want to count the number of drinks they had that night. Thank goodness most of us take taxis home.

Our Table - James, ?,?, Adam, Dantzelle, Me, Russian - Soccer Coach here in Weifang, Soccer team manager, Foreign Affairs Officer

*Wai Ban – the person directly responsible for the foreign teachers, our go to man for EVERYTHING!

I’ve put off writing this post in hopes that my rage would simmer down some, so now’s as good time as any. As today, 0:06am, is the official National Day of China and the reason I should be enjoying a relaxing week in Beijing, wait I’m sitting at my computer in Weifang, Shandong. So here’s the scope.

Today is October 1st and the 60th Anniversary of the People’s Republic of China. Talk about a great Happy Birthday, not only do they get amazing fireworks they also get one whole week off for celebrations. Unfortunately, I will not be participating in these festivities. I’m not going to sugar coat it, I was so looking forward to this week. I had plans and dreams of all I wanted to do and see.

This all came to a screeching halt last week with two little words, SWINE FLU! There have been a few, which means no one really knows how many, reported cases in Weifang, so just to be on the safe side our school has joined the ranks of, let’s just shut all the students in and prevent them from going out! I must admit having to work this week really isn’t that bad it is more of the fact that my vacation has been taken away. We all agree that Americans really have a hard time with the statement, ‘You can’t do that’. It is like most things, when told you can’t have it, that is all you want.

We will have today off! But like everything here it comes with a price tag, we have to make up classes on Saturday. Can I just volunteer to work today? I mean really come on we were suppose to have the WEEK off and now we have to make-up the Thursday class. Is anyone else seeing the flaw here?

Actually I have to admit to knowing the reason but to be honest it is so sad I really should just leave it out. I was told that Saturday is the Mid-Autumn Festival, it is a big family festival. To prevent students from going home, to possibly infected areas, school is mandatory on Saturday, with heavy punishments for those caught ditching. Sorry kids we know you want to be with your family and all for this very traditional huge holiday but wouldn’t you rather sit in a poorly ventilated classroom inhaling chalk dust that will most certainly screw up your lungs?

Long story short, I’m still here in Weifang, dreaming of Beijing and Shanghai. Oh and now that the swine flu has hit, most definitely carried over by some horrible westerner I am again viewed as a walking vile of virus! I don’t know if I will ever get use to people covering their mouths and noses when walking past me. I know I’m spiteful, I’ve never denied that, but sometimes I just want to cough at them and really give them something to cover their mouths about.

For the Mid Autumn Festival each teacher received a large box of pears. Now you have to understand these are Asian pears which means they are HUGE!

A huge box just for me...great!

 I had bought one last week to try, little did I know I would be getting a huge box a week later! I left the pear out for four days waiting for it to soften so I could eat it. It wasn’t until after I got this box did I discover they are suppose to be eaten like Apples, crunchy.

Now that I know when to eat them…I still can’t eat all these!

3 LAYERS!!!! Thank heaven I have students!