ESL Blogs

2-11-13

Hello family,
 
Well, today is the first day of China's New Year, the Year of the Snake. We have been celebrating on and off since Monday the 4th, and have been having a great time.
 
I was invited several times this week to have lunch or dinner with Headmaster and his family. On Friday I went to dinner. Some traditional foods were served. Always there is fish, pork, beef and chicken and a variety of veggie dishes and of course it would not be a meal without the dumplings. Headmaster doesn't have a lazy-susan on his table so you have to reach across to get something that you want. It is NOT considered rude like it would be in our country. I am not quite comfortable with that just yet (maybe never will be) so I just eat what is in front of me and what I can reach easily. And another thing they don't serve a drink with the meal like we do. Sometimes there is a bit of tea and always the bijoe but not a drink. All of Headmaster’s children, their wives and his grandchildren were there, as well as some extended family and friends. It is always an enjoyable time and the chatter around the table is loud and sometimes exciting. After dinner, they brought out some cards. They usually play poker but not the way we play it. I decided to come on home, since I can't understand what is on TV and I don't know how to play their kind of poker. I left with an invitation to come to lunch the next day, New Year’s Eve. I said “ok.”
 
Morning, New Year's Eve morning, came to the sound of fireworks and firecrackers being shot into the air and the continuous crackling of the little poppers going off. I got dressed and ready to go and waited for Tana's call. Even though she said to come at noon, I am not comfortable just going over at the time they say, so I just wait for the call to come down. The call came at 1:30 with the question...”Where are you?” “I am at home.” “Come down to eat.” “Ok, I'll be right down.”
 
I took with me one of my plants. This is their Spring Festival, so I thought it would be nice to give Headmaster a plant. I asked Tana first if this would be ok because I did not want to make a mistake in the gift giving and give something inappropriate or offensive. She said a plant was ok. So, I gave it to Headmaster saying that in America in our Spring Festival Easter we give plants and flowers to friends and family. He put it with his collection. It will be something for them to remember me by when I come home.
 
They were still in the process of cooking so I was glad I didn't go at 12. Grandmother (Headmaster’s wife) was helping make the dumplings. She stopped and went and got change out of her purse. It was American coins she had taken out and was now putting one coin in each of the dumplings. Why American coins I don't know. Anyway, it seems that if you get a dumpling with a coin in it you will have good fortune for the year. Lunch was served and I was asked to sit in my usual place. I am always asked to sit down first, a part of their hospitality and so I usually end up in the corner and not able to escape when I am finished eating. Usually the person sitting next to me on my right is the person who is doing the cooking and the last to sit down and eat, so I am stuck.
 
The cold veggie dishes are put on the table first. Next served is the meat, so you have some veggies and meat to munch on. Then the warm veggie dishes are brought to the table, followed by the dumplings. I am finally getting the hang of this. They serve the same way at the restaurants. Dinner and conversation flowed and so did the bijoe. Everyone was having a great time. I didn't get a coin in my dumpling though. I came home but once again I was asked to come back at 6:30 for dinner. At night fall the fireworks started all over the city. Brilliant fireworks filled the sky and it was very noisy. The call came at 9:30.
 
I went back down. They were sitting around watching the TV. They have big TV programs like we do on New Year’s Eve. I sat down and was watching the TV understanding only a few words here and there, but the performances where awesome. Famous Chinese singers and children were singing. There were comedians and short skits. Even though I didn't understand it was interesting to watch.

Around 11:30, more and more fireworks started going off. And the closer to New Year’s it got, the louder the noise became, so loud you could no longer hear the TV. We watched the count down on TV then went outside to light our own fireworks. There were fireworks everywhere filling nearly every corner of the sky. The noise was deafening and the smell of sulfur and smoke filled the air.

They had lit the fire they had prepared. It is customary to have a small "bonfire". And like at the AoBao in the Grasslands, you walk around it first one way three times and then the other way three times. Grandmother grabbed my arm and we walked around together.

They brought out the fireworks and the boys Alex and Philip got them ready to be lit. The fireworks come in boxes. I don't know exactly how it works but you light one fuse and run. Then, one by one the fireworks in the box start shooting into the sky. Bursts of red and green and white filled the sky right over our head. They lit 3 boxes at one time and boy was that spectacular to see.

They lit one box and all of a sudden the fireworks started going horizontal right toward us. Everyone ran for cover hiding behind the steel doors of the dorm and the marble wall near the gate. Me, I hid behind one of the school buses. While it had taken everyone by surprise of course, no one was hurt and we all laughed about it. They took pictures and laughed and talked and walked around the bonfire and it was very special. Headmaster asked me if I liked their Chinese New Year. I told him “yes.” I am glad I am here. It is special to be taken in and made a part of someone's family and I am glad I have had this opportunity. I wouldn't have missed it for the world.
 
After the fireworks and the AoBao walk we went back inside to a light dinner. The rest of the dumplings were cooked and everyone was still hoping to get a coin. Headmaster’s driver, we call him Bob, came while we were shooting off the fireworks. He had been driving around Hohhut looking at all the fireworks. Bob and the little grounds keeper joined us for dinner. I told Scott this little man, the grounds keeper, had lived in the Grasslands tending sheep. He has no wife or children and was very lonely and very poor, so Headmaster brought him to NaHeya and gave him a job and a new family. Anyway, Headmaster got 2 coins and Alex and Philip got one and I got one too! We talked for a bit then the driver decided to leave so I thought it would be a good time for me to leave too. It was 1:30.
 
I had a great time as usual. I watched TV for about 30 minutes before settling into bed. The sound of fireworks continued well into the night and the last ones I heard were at 4am before I finally went to sleep.  Morning came today at 11:30......they are still shooting off fireworks.
 
Well, I guess this is about all for now. I just wanted to share yet another experience of China with you. You guys take care and write me soon. Love to everyone, me