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Published: September 30th 2007
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The bonus of the service component of my job is that I get invitations to community events. The first event Craig and I have been able to attend was last Monday September 24th, 2007 - The Mid-Autumn Day Tea Party.
This was Craig's first time out with me representing the school in the community, so I think it gave him a taste of some of what I have been experiencing. You walk into such an event having no idea as to the proper etiquette, really having no idea of what to expect and you just have to stay on your toes. Watch others before diving in, mimic gestures of politeness etc. Additionally, you have to be ready for anything you do to possibly be photographed.
This tea party was hosted by the Teda Chamber of Commerce, and I was expecting it to be a meet and greet kind of event, with tea and of course mooncakes. Instead it was a variety show with tea, mooncakes, fruit, nuts, seeds and cigarettes (no we didn't smoke any).
This festival is celebrated with the eating of Mooncakes which I have decided are the equivalent to Christmas Cake in Canada. Everybody has
it, buys it, eats it and yet nobody really loves it.
Its a pastry pressed into a puck shape with beautiful designs. Inside are any number of possible fillings. Being unable to read chinese characters, we have learned to tear open your mooncake first in order to inspect its filling rather than just biting in. Why? Because while some fillings are fine...even good (dried fruit, date etc), one might also find curried meat, seafood or an entire pigeon's egg. Fortunately I haven't found an egg yet myself. However, at the Monday staff meeting the principal was passing out Mooncakes and I made the mistake of assuming he wouldn't have purchased any that were overly odd, and I was mistaken. The librarian was speaking to me at some length about the Chinese Postal Service and I simply bit right into mine. Not wanting to be rude to her, I continued chewing my very large mouthful of what I would assume canned dog food might taste like. Shelby (sitting beside me) said my eyes started watering. When the librarian left I looked at Shelby imploring help! Water! The meeting was underway, I couldn't spit it out. I swallowed as quickly as
I could. Shelby then offered me a piece of her own mooncake which was filled with date to try to rinse the taste from my mouth. She thinks mine smelled like seafood. Anyway, it was an adventure. At the tea party, when the photographers saw me accept a mooncake they all rushed over to catch a shot of the westerner eating a mooncake. I closed my eyes briefly praying it was indeed filled with fruit, and that if not, I could find the composure to look as though I was enjoying it.
Back to the tea party. We were treated to a performance by two members of the Peking Opera. I can't begin to describe how wonderful and cacaphonous it was simultaneously. We were seated far too close to the drums. I must admit, I found it completely incomprehensible but the costumes were unbelievable and it was an experience.
I preferred the next performance which was one man telling funny stories while playing a hand percussion instrument. Even though I missed the stories, it was hard to take your eyes away from him.
We also got to experience Cross Talk which is a much loved and revered
art form. Two men have a witty conversation. I think its along the line of "Whos on First" in terms of witty plays on the language, the use of the straightman etc. I laughed out loud a few times though I didn't know what was said.
To the side of the stage was a professional caligrapher showing off his art, and we were not fast enough to have him do our names, but we still enjoyed watching.
It was explained that Teda Government has decided that the initial stages of this development are complete: construction, attraction of business, expansion of services etc. Now its time to bring the arts to Teda, and expand this area culturally. Obviously we are in full support of this commitment.
Anyway, have attached a few pictures but the videos will have to wait as the program for uploading them is not working properly today.
Off to Chengde tomorrow, so check it out on google map if you want to figure out where we are going.
Love to all.
Beth
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Brandy
non-member comment
So great to get your updates and they are so well written! Got to love the adventures of eating out of your element . . . fermented bean ice cream treats anyone? Not so yummy 'treat' we tried in the Philippines - much preferred over their national delicacy, a half developed duck egg. Not exactly to the tastes of the white girl with a bird phobia!