It’s Christmas, yes, even in China. I nearly fell of my sleigh yesterday when I went shopping with T and she took me to Christmas Road. Not officially called that, but you can image that there is Christmas everywhere. I was well surprised that Xmas is so big here in China.
But surprised why? I mean after all, China probably does make all, or nearly all, Christmas decorations that you will find anywhere in the world. (Check the bottom of Santa’s sleigh, I swear it has a “Made in China” sticker on it somewhere).
They have antlers, hats small, big and medium, decorations, lights, Santa suits, Mrs. Clause suits (the type you’d fancy taking off in a private unwrapping session), trees, with snow, without snow, white trees, green trees, red trees, Merry Christmas in Chinese, Merry Christmas in English, strings of red Chillies (not sure of the origin of that one), and you name it, Christmas Road has it.
The visit had a purpose and that was to get me fitted with some Santa gear, because as I mentioned before, I have been recruited to add a bit of Christmas cheer to the Christmas Eve celebrations at The Restaurant. I’m working on my Ho Ho Ho’s and will wear my thong just in case Santa gets offered too much Eggnog (or Bai Guo) and starts getting raunchy with a “Merry Xmas, Mrs. Claus” number.
Capatilising on the very prominence of Christmas, the next two weeks will be Christmas in my classes too. I can get away with it, as mostly I have each grade only once a week. So this week, I will teach each class a Christmas song. So far Jingle Bells have been pretty easy, as a Chinese version does exist and the tune is familiar.
I personally prefer Rudolf The Red-nosed Reindeer, because the story in the song is cute, but it proves to have too much varied vocab for my fledgeling students, hence attention dwindles past the har-har of the red nose. Jingle Bells I just teach the chorus and *poof* instant song.
Then next week I will buy a small, cheep tree with all the trimmings, and have the students decorate it and explain to them the relevance of selected decorations and perhaps throw in the actual reason for celebrating Christmas and giving presents. So, two weeks worth of classes wrapped up ready for Christmas. Ho Ho Ho.
Lara came over to my apartment today in her afternoon break. I didn’t make the slightest of moves, because I’m a decent guy (ha! Tell The Ex I said THAT), but the atmosphere was loaded with electricity. Either that, or the cold, dry Shiyan air and my cotton underwear were generating too much static. Maybe a bit of both.
We spent a pleasant afternoon together, me practicing my Chinese, she her English, talking about whatever our collective vocabulary could muster. I’ve also started using the Premier features at Chinesepod.com and have sent my first SMS typed, by myself, in Chinese characters. Of course, I have by now forgotten the pinyin for the characters, but practice leads to retention.
Oh, if you fancy getting the lyrics of your favourite Christmas carols for your young students, or any other application you can imagine, surf on over to www.carols.org.uk and help yourself.
This holiday season, the sound of Christmas will resound in the schools of Shiyan.