Now for New Year's

---

---

New Year's

I guess I forgot to add this in the Christmas and New Year blog. It was great and simple!!!! We took the BETC gang out to dinner at Mr. Muscles, and his name does fit!!!!! He's really good to us, cheap and great food!!! I think to feed all 12 of us was about 280 RMB which is about 40 bucks and then split between Greg and I. Totally cheap!!!!!!! And that's with beer!!!!!!

We lost a few after dinner cuz it's late and we head back to Greg's place just because it's warmer then mine. These guys dont spit on the floor, lucky for Greg!!! We start playing charades. They've never played charades before. NEVER!!!!!!!!!!!! Can you imagine them playing Cranium or Pictionary, they'd go wild. It was hilarious watching them especially the theme is ur coworkers. How they see each other was too much fun. And again they've never played. We were laughing so hard.

After Greg's we're off to KTV. It's a new one that Greg found cuz one night all he wanted to do was to just sit and a have a beer somewhere. The owner and his son loved us and after many many beers later we go in his KTV room. We danced and sang the night away. When the male Chinese get hot they lift up their shirts over their rather large belly to cool them. Thankfully he had on a couple of layers!!!! He danced with Greg the same way we would dance with a lady. It was almost too much for him but he is a good sport too.

This is where he met Amy2. She was the only one who could speak pretty good English and got dragged into the KTV just to communicate for everyone. She was very sweet and energetic. Why he named her Amy2 is beyond me. She was nothing like Amy1!

We all had such an amazing time with the singing and dancing on the mini bouncy dance floor. They brought in candles and fruit. Why is still question that'll never be answered. Just customary Chinese culture, feed you til you cant walk!!! We ordered so many beers and it's not like back home where everyone has their own beer. It's a small glass that gets filled 2/3 to the top and them we cheers. Here the cheers is called Gan Bai (sounds like gam bay). We drink all of it and then we show each other that the glass is empty. Before drinking the clinking of the glasses happens but to show respect you clink the other glass lower then yours which leads to squatting near the floor to show how low you will go for a gan bai and respect. A few people fell over to say the least. Not many got drunk cuz the good boys and girls would never get that far!!! Serioulsy!!!!

The stroke of midnight came and everyone hugged and kissed on the cheek, maybe. They're so traditional it's crazy. They dont hug much either!!! Forget the traditions cuz here I come!! OMG!!! So stiff to hug and nervous!!! It didnt matter, the night was about American traditions and in the end just made it easier to hug them later!!!! Still stiff but not so nrevous! THe owner came and his son were there with us. We had few less BETC gang due to it being so late and all the drinking but it was still an amazing good time!!!!! Just soon after midnight everyone was just sooo tired and went home. I think I was in bed by like one. Seriously!!!!!

It was a great night with great people that will be remembered forever!!!! I am truly lucky to be here and to be surrounded by the most kind, gentle and generous people I have ever met on any of my travels!!!!

Gan Bai to all you and hope you all had great New Year's too!!!!

Miss you!!! Tell everyone I said, "Ni Hao!!!"

---