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Our school celebrated its 10th Anniversary at the end of last week....and oh what a celebrations it was....heavens knows what they will do for future anniversaries!! We started the celebrations with a stunning performance on Thursday night. The music, the costumes, the talent displayed by our students was a feast for the eyes and ears of everyone present. Many of my students participated and all wanted a photo taken with me while they were in costume - needless to say I was happy to oblige as I got close-up photos of their costumes!!
Friday morning students started to gather on the new courtyard decked out with golden columns and chinese lanterns - all in red and gold - ready for the arrival of our honoured guests from Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Beijing, Guangxi etc...all Party leaders, chairmen, presidents of major companies that have become school benefactors.....the students level of excitement was almost palpable!! They waited patiently for nearly 2 hours till the guests started arriving and then started cheering and clapping wildly - one could have mistaken the scene for the arrival of a movie star!!
First off we had the official opening of the Technology and Learning Centre - the Meng Li Hong Centre - named after the lady who donated many millions to have the centre constructed. There was much pomp and ceremony, red and gold eveywhere, and when Meng Li Hong started her speech the place erupted in cheering..she then cut the red ribbon and the centre was officially opened. The honoured guests then went inside the centre where there were displays of past and present students and their achievements. The Chinese are very big on advertising their achievements...so all awards won by the school were on display and former students who have excelled themselves were prominently displayed. Displays of current high achievers were included and then I look at one poster and......I'm ON IT....can't miss me amongst all the black hair!!!!
We all then headed to the courtyard where the majority of students were still patiently waiting for a glimpse of their honoured guests.....and so began the formal speeches.....none of which I understood except when they said thank you at the end. Luckily I had a student with me who could give me the gist of what was being said. All the speeches were highly emotional and when Chen Kai Zhi (the big wig from Gaungzhou) started weeping I thinkwe all got a lump in our throats.
Then there was the handing over of a cheque for 2,000,000 yuan for further development of the school - much bowing etc and presentations of appreciation in rather ornate red and gold folders.
More speeches followed - these of thanks - before it was time to bid our guests farewell. The students all stood with flags waving goodbye.
By this stage I was all "chinesed" out but no.....more photos to be taken by and with students, interview for the TV, photos with teachers....oh the problems of being a "star" in my own right (and full of bull***t I know). Finally headed back to my apartment to put my feet up - standing around in high heels is not good - and then got a phone call telling me that all teachers were being taken out to dinner by the school.
Off to the poshest hotel in Baise we went and had a veritable feast. I was sitting at my table when this man came up and offered us cheers - much Chinese spoken at this stage - we then all said gambei and I duly finished my baijui. He then asked me why I could not speak much Chinese and I said because I never got my lessons at school....you could have heard a pin drop.... I was only speaking with the School Principal!!!! I was SO embarassed but apparently he told the others at the table he liked this "lao shi" who had a bit of life in her!! Consequently they were embarassed that they had not been more enthusiastic in their cheering....the joys of all this face-saving is priceless!!! Anyway much more Baijiu was consumed with many gambei's as the Principal and vice principals moved from table to table. A most enjoyable way to finish off the celebrations.
that's it for now .....heaps of photos though as I'm sure I cannot give justice in words to the amazing performances by the students. Bye. xxx
Friday morning students started to gather on the new courtyard decked out with golden columns and chinese lanterns - all in red and gold - ready for the arrival of our honoured guests from Hong Kong, Guangzhou, Beijing, Guangxi etc...all Party leaders, chairmen, presidents of major companies that have become school benefactors.....the students level of excitement was almost palpable!! They waited patiently for nearly 2 hours till the guests started arriving and then started cheering and clapping wildly - one could have mistaken the scene for the arrival of a movie star!!
First off we had the official opening of the Technology and Learning Centre - the Meng Li Hong Centre - named after the lady who donated many millions to have the centre constructed. There was much pomp and ceremony, red and gold eveywhere, and when Meng Li Hong started her speech the place erupted in cheering..she then cut the red ribbon and the centre was officially opened. The honoured guests then went inside the centre where there were displays of past and present students and their achievements. The Chinese are very big on advertising their achievements...so all awards won by the school were on display and former students who have excelled themselves were prominently displayed. Displays of current high achievers were included and then I look at one poster and......I'm ON IT....can't miss me amongst all the black hair!!!!
We all then headed to the courtyard where the majority of students were still patiently waiting for a glimpse of their honoured guests.....and so began the formal speeches.....none of which I understood except when they said thank you at the end. Luckily I had a student with me who could give me the gist of what was being said. All the speeches were highly emotional and when Chen Kai Zhi (the big wig from Gaungzhou) started weeping I thinkwe all got a lump in our throats.
Then there was the handing over of a cheque for 2,000,000 yuan for further development of the school - much bowing etc and presentations of appreciation in rather ornate red and gold folders.
More speeches followed - these of thanks - before it was time to bid our guests farewell. The students all stood with flags waving goodbye.
By this stage I was all "chinesed" out but no.....more photos to be taken by and with students, interview for the TV, photos with teachers....oh the problems of being a "star" in my own right (and full of bull***t I know). Finally headed back to my apartment to put my feet up - standing around in high heels is not good - and then got a phone call telling me that all teachers were being taken out to dinner by the school.
Off to the poshest hotel in Baise we went and had a veritable feast. I was sitting at my table when this man came up and offered us cheers - much Chinese spoken at this stage - we then all said gambei and I duly finished my baijui. He then asked me why I could not speak much Chinese and I said because I never got my lessons at school....you could have heard a pin drop.... I was only speaking with the School Principal!!!! I was SO embarassed but apparently he told the others at the table he liked this "lao shi" who had a bit of life in her!! Consequently they were embarassed that they had not been more enthusiastic in their cheering....the joys of all this face-saving is priceless!!! Anyway much more Baijiu was consumed with many gambei's as the Principal and vice principals moved from table to table. A most enjoyable way to finish off the celebrations.
that's it for now .....heaps of photos though as I'm sure I cannot give justice in words to the amazing performances by the students. Bye. xxx
- comments
Ray H Very interesting Katie. Your stories are always welcome and I wish I was there too. Getting cold now I assume? Need something to keep you warm.The people and young people are so respectful and disciplined. Pity we couldn't have a balanced system between PR China and Australian ways.I note the Nobel Prize for Peace was awarded to Chinese Liu Xiaobo. However the Chinese gov't has now put this man in prison for 11 years as a dissadent. It is assumed that TV coverage of the Prize presentation was blacked out in China and not even reported. At the presentation there was a vacant chair left in recognition of Xiaobo. Very sad and one of the problems we have with the "system". Keep safe and warm.........even only if it's some local brew!
Mary M Hi groove!! Love getting your postings - just brillant! I hope that you have care packages for christmas and that somewhere along the line you get to have your favorite christmas food ( food tends to be the thing you miss the most!) Much love and christmas vibes, Mary xxxx