Meet the Vice-president

Christmas in China is not really such a big festival and celebration as in the Western world. Some of the shops in Linfen did put out some Christmas decorations, but we reckon it was only to cater for all the foreigners in the city... there's about six of us all together. Every second shop has a santa poster and some other decorations. The question is really what to do on Christmas day as life goes on as usual. I had to teach for four hours in the morning at the Business College.

The Chinese do have some customs that go together with Christmas. One of these customs for instance is the giving of apples. Mmm... i didn't know what this was either until my class explained to me. I was given apples since i walked into the class. I thought this was just them not being able to buy decent gifts, or they thought that i looked hungry, or that i needed to go on a diet!! Well, this is actually a wish of good luck. In China to give someone an apple means that they wish you a safe and peaceful life. Well, i can provide some of the war affected countries with apples now if need be. I also got a nice little Buddha statue from the whole class. It weighs about 10kgs, so not really made for my nomadic lifestyle. I know what will need to stay behind at the airport for my next trip.

The University arranged a meal for us in the evening at this beautiful expensive hotel. The room was laid out with the most expensive materials imaginable. Beautiful big couches on one side, a massive round table on the other side of the room to seat about 25 people, and a red carpet thicker than my mattress. The bathrooms? You feel to bad to pee in the toilets it's all so beautiful!!

So just before the meal we all sat around waiting for more people to arrive. Person after person walked into the room. Relaxing and making good use of the couches is what westerners do best. Then this tall Chinese man walked in, fitted out in black shoes with a big long black overcoat. It was like something out of the movie "Blade". The only difference was that this man was not a black Wesley Snipes. The room went quiet and all the Chinese people stood up. Us westerners for a couple of seconds sat there, and then gathered that this must be an important man. So, we got up. Well, it turned out to be the Vice-president of the University. Titles has never been my strong point, but when president is connected to the title i think it sounds important. He greeted us all in a "Ni hao" and a handshake and it was off to the dining table.

This is something that always happens to me, and i promise i never plan it!! I ended up sitting right next to the big man!! His English is non-existent, but we communicated by the use of hand gestures. I had to check myself on using those chopsticks cause he was very observant on that. The Chinese love their communal eating and combined with this goes a toast(salute, cheers). You find people walking around the table going from person to person, drinking, downing and toasting the night away. When they say the word "gumpay", this means to down. Needles to say we had a couple of those that night. As soon as your glass is empty, the waiter or Lifei or Carson is there to top-up. The beer flew freely and it just so happended that Jess went home with a little too much to drink. For such a big man he is quite a sissy when it comes to beer.

Me, the Vice-president and the Director

Overall, good food, good people and a great Christmas eve in China!

(Linfen, Shanxi Province, China)