It started when we had to get to the Winnerway Hotel (where it was being held) 1 1/2 hours early for no apparent reason. Our table was great, 3 from the front of the stage and central which I think has to do with us being foreigners and that we're interesting specimens to be viewed.

Here is a photo of myself and two other teachers, Daniel and Klara from Germany.

The ceremony was okay, all the foreign teachers had to get up on stage and say 'happy teacher's day and have a nice night' in different languages, mine was 'Australian'. It kinda went 'G'day everyone, Happy Teacher's Day and I Hope you gave a beaut night, hooroo'. MMMMMM. We were then pulled up onto the stage (twice) without any notice to hand awards of excellence to the Chinese teachers...such is the Chinese way.

Then came the food...suffice to say I only ate from 3 dishes out of ten and if you look at the below picture you'll understand why. Yes that is a boiled chicken's head...all we wanted was McDonalds!

After many toasts and drunk Chinese teachers telling we're beautiful and handsome we headed to a private room at the hotel for the 'after party' which was the strangest part of the night. The room was amazing and we had Chinese people come into the room that we didn't know and then they'd start singing Chinese Karoke...bizarre.

Left to right: Daniel, Olivia, Tamzin, Klara, Kathryn, Aine, Ville and Charles.

Then...then...one of the attendants opened the door with another foreigner next to him and ushered him into the room. This poor foreigner is Andreas (who is Swiss and lives in Beijing) and he only asked if they could show him somewhere to have a drink...they thought he was a teacher too! Very surreal. However, Andreas has a great sense of humour and after we insisted he join us he had a good laugh as well. Andreas works for a company that has the rights to televise Chinese basketball and was in Dongguan for a match but it was cancelled. This is the great part of the night..Andreas offered to get us tickets for a basketball match in October and if we're ever in Beijing, we can stay with him! How great is that!?!

Left to right: Aine, me, Andreas & Klara

This is all part of the 'China experience' and I'm having the time of my life even though I'm missing my family, friends and Oz.

I'm adding more photos to Flikr (see previous post for address).

Love
Katrina

written by  KatrinaB on September 11, 2006 from Dongguan, China
from the travel blog: China Dreaming
Send a Compliment

---

Hey Sparks,

What a riot - the celebrations sounds like a weird dream as opposed to something slighty ceremonial!! Thanks for sending me the poem - I had a good laugh, Ruth could have a new career in poetry writing. So good to hear you happy and excited over your experiences to date. I can "feel" how much of a blast you are having through reading your posts. I look forward to the next installment! Take care and continue to enjoy!

Love Shell

written by  Michelle Milikins on September 12, 2006

comment on this...