If you thought the Chinese New Year celebrations were the biggest and most visual event of the Chinese new year, like me, you would have been mistaken.

I’ve experienced Chinese New Years in England, Brunei, Malaysia and South Africa, and they were all much larger, visually stimulating and busier than the one I experienced here in Shiyan in China. As I said in a previous post, I didn’t even see one Lion or Dragon Dance.

The Chinese New Year was much a time for people to spend with their families and, as is required (by law, I’m sure), a lot of eating was involved. Of course, to eat, you have to cook, so a lot of cooking and eating was taking place, mostly in the family’s home, out of sight.

To the common, foreign observer, the rest of the city might appear quiet. Dead, in fact. As indeed it was. Shops were closed, restaurants operated on skeleton crews for minimal hours (if at all), and only here and there a supermarket was open. Sure, in Liuyan and Wuyan there were a few people, but people aimlessly strolling the streets, perhaps looking for something to do. Further away from the city centre, the streets were deserted.

In Liuyan Square, considered to be the central focal point of the city, there were some concerts, or attempted concerts of the usual Mickey Mouse variety, kids singing English songs, old ladies with traditional dances, etc. But even the crowds here were thin.

So last night, not expecting anything other than just the last restaurant dinner of the holiday season, King and I dragged Hong Mei to Liuyan for dinner at our favourite Chinese restaurant.

It’s our favourite, because they do good Chinese food (according to our Western tastebuds), it’s cheap, and best of all we can actually order (even if we choose random items, it still ends up being delicious).

I can’t tell you the name, because I don’t know what it’s called. It’s adjacent to the McDonalds though. There are 3 restaurants in a row, next to a… er… pond. The one we like is the centre one.

So anyway, the busses were quite full, as expected, afterall, it’s the last weekend of the holiday. We sat down, and had ourselves a meal. This was around 18:30′ish and we took our time enjoying the food. Afterwards, we had the usual dillema of what to do next, not really wanting to go home. So Hong Mei said she wanted to go have a look at the Supermarket on the otherside of Liuyan Square.

Shortly before we left, we heard some fireworks being set off. Nothing unusual, as it’s being going on like this since Chinese New Year Day. But when we existed the restaurant, there were people everywhere. Now, I’ve seen many people in Shiyan, but this must have been every single person living in the city. The main road cutting from People’s Road to Zhang Wan was blocked off and completely filled with people.

This is a two-way street, comprising 3 lanes, 4 in places, in each direction. From the one side (incidentally from the one KFC in Shiyan to the other KFC) to the other, is probably about 3 kms. The entire width of the road, it’s entire lenght, the whole of Liuyan Square and all the sidewalk space available, were occupied by people. There must have been over a million bodies mulling around.

There is a term in Chinese for this: People Ocean People Mountain. And this is exactly what this was. As if the sight of this was not exciting enough, fireworks were exploding everywhere. Everywhere.

And here in China it’s no sissy cracker like the legal kind you might find in South Africa. Oh no, here you can buy quater sticks of dynamite for 1 Yuan each, the type that will sever your hand from your body with one mighty bang. Don’t bother looking for the severed appendix either, there won’t be much left.

Explosions in this crowd, everywhere, it surprised me that I only saw one Ambulance all night. Fireworks in the sky, exploding like in proffesional pyro-technique shows. Little kids with what they call fire-flowers, a long tube that you’re supposed to point up to the sky and it spits little balls of fire which explodes maybe 5 meters up. Little kids don’t always point it up though.

Hong Mei had left us earlier in the night, and King and I was so shell-shocked that we stood on the steps of a building, under cover with a view of the main events. People were throwing those quater sticks of dynamite around. I was really scared it would hit me, as they thought it funny to fling it at foreigners. One landed near a parked car, and when it went of literally shook the car. Car alarms were going off everywhere.

Where we were standing happened to be the exit to The Restaurant. We stood there past closing time, and soon the staff started pouring out. I greeted a few who spotted us. Soon, Lara appeared. “Helloooo”, she sang a greeting. “Oh, hi”, I said as I briefly turned around to look at her before I turned back.

A few days earlier she had caught up with King and I, and in his presence said she would call me that evening to go out with her. She never did. Neither did she the following days. I wasn’t in the mood for any pleasantries, so I ignored her. She got the message and walked off into the crowds. The last time, it would turn out, that I would see her as such.

Eventually the mulling crowds all started drifting in the same direction, which was the direction our home was in, so we decided to join. With sparks raining from everywhere, I was constantly looking around me. I was wearing my down feather jacket, and the only thing on my mind was feathers-and-plastic, feathers-and-plastic. I unzipped my jacket, just incase I needed to get it off in a hurry.

Eventually we cleared the crowds as it thinned out around Wuyan. We walked home, all the way dodging more fireworks, sparks, explosions, the like. It was good to get back to our quiet neighbourhood where the bangs were only heard from a distance.

This night was the Chinese Lantern Festival. There are as many stories about it’s origin as there are listings in the Google Directory.

The facts are clear though. It’s celebrated on the 15th day of the first month of the Chinese Calander. As the Chinese Calendar is lunar, and the new year starts on the day of the new moon, this festival falls on the first full moon of Chinese New Year, and also marks the end of celebrations for the Chinese New Year (school starts again tomorrow).

In bigger cities, it is alledged that there are many displays of beautiful lanterns. For this there are many reasons, such as keeping away bad spirits, ligting the path for Buddah, using it for mating games as this is also considered the Chinese Valentines day. All are, as far as I could tell, folk-tales though, as I couldn’t find two sources with the same story.

In Shiyan, there were only a few kids with plastic, battery operated lanterns, and then tons of fireworks. No lantern displays.

It’s also a day for family, although I’m sure this went down during the day, as all families were in the road during the night. It is a custom to eat Yuan Xiao. Oh, in Chinese this festival is called Yuan Xiao Jie.

Yuan Xiao is what they call the delicasy that everyone eats on this day. It’s made of white sticky rice and has a usually sweet stuffing. It symolises the full moon, as it’s perfectly round and white, and the sticky rice symbolises family unity and reunion.

One story I read was that in one of the Emperor’s Palaces, there was a maid called Yuan Xiao who made these little balls, and the balls where named after her, and the festival were named after the balls. I can’t prove this though.

So anyway, this festival, in visual impressiveness and amount of people on the street, was far superior to the celebrations of Chinese New Year.

I think next year I will avoid wearing plastic and feathers on this day.

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So, I’m ending my ‘holiday’ the way I started it; isolated and spending too much time in my room.

The school will commence again on Monday. I’m as apprehensive about it as I was when I came here in September last year, although this time, I am a smidgen more prepared.

I actually invested my time and money wisely, and during the course of this holiday completed i-to-i’s On-line TEFL Course. Well, nearly completed it.

One module requires some observation from a CD-ROM which I haven’t received yet. I’m hoping it will arrive very, very soon. My teaching knowledge was not as shockingly little as I thought. My only real lack was that of execution. My planning was sort of almost correct, but then fumbled on the delivery.

I have much to mend now as I transgressed on the most fundamental rule of the classroom: do not scream at your students. I might have done this in a few of my classes and now need to rebuild that rapport. But it ain’t gonna be easy.

Nothing much else has happened. My Ex-wife SMS’ed me about some docs she needs for the divorce proceedings, which have been moved from 17 Jan to 15 Feb.

I spent a day with B, another foreign teach from Ghana, trying to get her enrolled on that TEFL course, but she has no credit card, so it’s a bit more complicated. She’s a difficult person to be with, and I can’t exactly put my finger on why.

Afterwards, we had dinner with King and Eleven, B’s friend. King, the King of Contradictions, acted very funny around her. Like a little boy in love. Hehe.

Also made too much eye contact with one of the staff at KFC. A small girl with a BIG smile. Too cute. But after that I haven’t been back to the KFC again, as I think I might have drank too much coffee.

And for the rest, I’ve watched ALL the new, and most of the old DVD’s that I haven’t seen at that shop which I rent from. These last few days have gone quick and slow, at the same time.

I need to go draw up some lesson plans so that I don’t stand around like a monkey again and give them ‘reason’ to deduct my salary. Sigh.

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Here’s an English version. It retained the melody, but the words are not the same as the Chinese version or that translated below:

The lyrics below comprise the following:

- The Chinese Characters
If you can’t see it, install a language pack.

- The Pinyin
To pronounce the characters.

- The Literal Translation
Literally translated, word for word.

- The Idiomatic Translation
How it translates in the context of the dfferent languages.

Groups of underlined Pinyin indicates 1 word. The numbers represent the tones ( _ / \/ \ ), which are unimportant when you sing, but quite important when you speak.

两只蝴蝶
liang3 zhi1 hu2 die2
L: two pieces butterfly
I: Two Butterflies

歌手:庞龙
ge1 shou3: pang2 long2
L: Singer: Pang Long
I: Artist: Pang Long

亲爱的你慢慢飞
qing4 ai4 de ni3 man4 man4 fei1
L: dear, you slowly fly
I: Darling, please fly slowly

小心前面带刺的玫瑰
xiao3 xin1 qian2 mian4 dai4 ci1 de mei2 gui1
L: small heart (careful) front thorny rose
I: Be careful of the thorny roses ahead

亲爱的你张张嘴

qing4 ai4 de ni zhang1 zhang1 zui3
L: dear, you open open mouth
I: Darling, please open your mouth a bit

风中花香会让你沉醉
feng1 zhong1 hua1 xiang1 hui4 rang4 ni3 chen2 zui4
L: wind centre fragrance can make you intoxicated
I: The fragrance in the wind will intoxicate you

亲爱的你跟我飞
qin1 ai4 de ni3 gen1 wo3 fei1

L: dear, you with I fly
I: Darling, please follow me

穿过丛林去看小溪水
chuan1 guo1 cong2 lin2 qu4 kan4 xiao3 xi1 shui3
L: through jungle to look small mountain stream
I: through the jungle to see the small creek

亲爱的来跳个舞
qin1 ai4 de lai2 tiao4 ge4 wu3
L: dear, come dance [together]

I: Darling, come dance with me

爱的春天不会有天黑
ai4 de chun1 tian1 bu4 hui4 you3 tian1 hei1
L: loves spring not can have darkness
I: there’s no darkness in the spring of love

我和你缠缠绵绵翩翩飞
wo3 he4 ni3 chan2 chan2 mian2 mian2 pian1 pian1 fei1
L: me and you [tangled up] handsome fly
I: we fly together intimately

飞跃这红尘永相随
fei1 yue4 zhe4 [hong2 chen2] [yong3 xiang1 sui2]
L: leap this [bustling place][forever will follow]
I: fly together for a lifetime

追逐你一生
zhui1 zhu2 ni3 yi1 sheng1
L: persue your life
I: fly with you all your life

爱恋我千回
[ai4 lian4] wo3 qian1 hui2
L: [in love] you never regret
I: I never regret loving you

不辜负我的柔情你的美
bu4 gu1 fu4 wo3 de rou2 qing2 ni3 de mei3
L: not dissapoint my tenderness your beauty
I: worthy of my tenderness and your beauty

我和你缠缠绵绵翩翩飞

wo3 he4 ni3 chan2 chan2 mian2 mian2 pian1 pian1 fei1
L: me and you [tangled up] handsome fly
I: we fly together intimately

飞跃这红尘永相随
fei1 yue4 zhe4 [hong2 chen2] [yong3 xiang1 sui2]
L: leap this [bustling place][forever will follow]
I: fly together for a lifetime

等到秋风尽秋叶落成堆
deng3 dao4 [qiu1 feng1] [jin4 qiu1] ye4 lao4 cheng2 dui1

L: when [autumn wind] [completely fall] leaf is completed piles
I: until the leaves pile up in the autumn wind

能陪你一起枯萎也无悔
neng2 pei2 ni3 yi1 qi3 ku1 wei1 ye3 mo2 hui3
L: accompany you together wither also no regret
I: I wither away with you without regret

Idiomatic Translation obtained from
http://blog.hjenglish.com/windgu/articles/11940.html

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Ok, the Pinyin and literal words are my own translation efforts and thus might not be 100% accurate.

Grab the songs (right click and “Save As”):

老鼠爱大米 ( 女 ) - Female Version

老鼠爱大米 ( 男 )- Male Version
The lyrics below comprise the following:

- The Chinese Characters
If you can’t see it, install a language pack.

- The Pinyin
To pronounce the characters.

- The Literal Translation
Literally translated, word for word.

- The Idiomatic Translation
How it translates in the context of the different languages.

Groups of underlined Pinyin indicates 1 word. The numbers represent the tones ( _ / \/ \ ), which are unimportant when you sing, but quite important when you speak.

Lyrics for Like The Mouse Loves Rice or Lau Shu Ai Da Mi ( 老鼠爱大米 ).

歌手: 杨臣刚
Artist: Yang Chengang

我听见你的声音
wo3 ting1 jian4 ni3 de sheng1 yin1
L: I hear your sound
I: When I hear your voice

有种特别的感觉
you4 zhong3 te4 bie4 de gan3 jue2
L: get special feeling

I: I get a special kind of feeling

让我不断想不敢再忘记你
rang4 wo3 bu4 duan4 xiang3 bu4 gan3 zai4 wang2 ji4 ni3
L: let me unceasingly think not dare again forget you
I: it constantly makes me want to not forget you

我记得有一个人
wo3 ji4 de2 you3 yi1 ge4 ren2
L: I remember have one person
I: I’ll always remember there’s somebody

永远留在我心中
yong3 yuan3 liu2 zai4 wo3 xin1 zhong4
L: forever remain my heart centre
I: Who will stay in my heart forever

哪怕只能够这样的想你
na3 pa4 zhi1 neng2 you4 zhe4 yang4 de xiang3 ni3
L: even if only can this way think you
I: even if I can only long for you this way

如果真的有一天
ru2 guo3 zhen1 de you3 yi1 tian1
L: if really have a day
I: But if there really comes a day

爱情理想会实现
ai4 qing2 li3 xiang3 hui4 shi2 xian4
L: love sentimental ideal can realise
I: When this love becomes a reality

我会加倍努力好好对你永远不改变

wo3 hui4 jia1 bei4 nu3 li4 hao4 hao4 dui4 ni3 yong3 yuan3 bu4 gai3 bian4
L: I can redouble efforts better to you forever not change
I: I will double my efforts to be true to you

不管路有多么远
bu4 guan3 lu4 you3 duo1 mo yuan3
L: no matter road have how far
I: No matter how far the road

一定会让它实现
yi1 ding4 hui4 rang4 ta1 shi2 xian4

L: certainly can let it realise
I: I will surely make this love come true

我会轻轻在你耳边对你说( 对你说 )
wo3 hui4 qing1 qing1 zai4 ni3 er3 bian1 dui4 ni3 shuo1 (dui4 ni3 shuo1)
L: I can gently in your ear to you say (to you say)
I: I’ll lean close to your ear, and gently say

我爱你爱着你

wo3 ai4 ni3 ai4 zhe ni3
L: I love you, loving you
I: I love you, I’m loving you

就像 老鼠爱大米
jiu4 xiang4 lao3 shu3 ai4 da4 mi3
L: like mouse loves the rice
I: like the mouse loves rice

不管有多少风雨我都会依然陪着你

bu4 guan3 you3 duo1 shao3 feng1 yu3 wo3 dou1 hui4 yi1 ran2 pei2 zhe ni3
L: no matter have big small wind rain I will still accopany you
I: No matter how difficult, I will stay with you

我想你想着你
wo3 xiang3 ni3 xiang3 zhe ni3
L: I miss you, missing you
I: I miss you, I’m missing you

不管有多么的苦
bu4 guan3 you3 duo1 mo de ku3

L: No matter have big pain;
I: No matter how painful;

只要能让你开心我什么都愿意
zhi3 yao1 neng2 rang4 ni3 kai1 xin1 wo3 shen2 me dou1 yuan4 yi4
L: so long as can let you happy I anything to want
I: I will do anything to make you happy

这样爱你
zhe4 yang4 ai4 ni3

L: like this love you
I: This is how I love you.

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Yesterday morning I was listening, over the internet, to a Cape Town based radio station, KFM, and heard “Bodyrockers - I like the way”. Just what I needed as a pick-me up.

I downloaded the song and listened to it over and over again and it really lifted my spirits, like I had forgotten music can do. So the worries with Lara, although not out of my mind, were filed securely towards the back.

I was feeling so confident that I took the pants, which I bought a week or so ago, but was too long to wear, to the tailor I had discovered in Wuyan. I hadn’t had the guts to do this before, as it would require a level of Chinese which I do not poses.

Taking the trusty No.5 Bus I settled down and saw on the clock it was 13:20 and knew it would be time for Lara to take her break. I had barely finished this thought when my phone rang. It was someone phoning from The Restaurant’s phone and could really only be one person. I played it cool.

“Hi”, I said, chirpy as if nothing was wrong and I was unsure of who it was. “Hi”, she said, voice crackling as she has a bit of cold. I said “Oh, hi, how are you”, cool as Mr. Cucumber. She said “fine, and you? Where are you”. “On my way to Wuyan, on the bus”, I replied, offering no more than that. A brief pregnant pause followed. “Oh” she said. I offered nothing else. “You want come here?”, she asked after another few grating seconds. “Why?” I replied, not in the mood to make things easy.

“I want to see you.” And if my heart was a cookie, there would be crumbs all over the bus. Few things in life feel as good as knowing that someone wants you, even if it is only to see you. So I dropped the act and said sure, I’m on the bus already, I could be there in 10 minutes.

15 Minutes later I walked into the restaurant and it was great to see her. That smile of hers instantly disarming me.

I did frown a bit and asked her what the previous night was about. So she pointed out that my phone had no money, because she did try to phone me when she realised I had turned around, and then she did run outside to see where I was. By then my long legs and anger-fueled pace had already carried me across the busy road and out of sight.

So I felt better. I would like to say we embraced, kissed and made up, alas, we barely touch and thus the preceding is hardly likely. In light of what happened this year, I see this as an excellent test of my substance.

A question of ‘why are you with this woman’. Just of one thing? Am I really the dirty bastard that this year perhaps it might have looked like I am? Or am I the decent gentleman my mother raised who strayed a little bit off the path?

Anyway, it was good to spend a few hours with her. We had some lunch and afterwards we returned to The Restaurant and I thought her some more basic English. She likes to speak English, but her vocab is limited. She was quite sick and also a bit tired, so I watched her sleep for 15 minutes, which was great. People, when they sleep, are most peaceful and often most beautiful.

I went to a Pharmacy alone and managed to mime my way through getting her the correct medicine, which hopefully will help.

Afterwards I journeyed to the tailor in Wuyan, where communication was unnecessary, as when I walked up to the shop, bag in hand, they guessed what I wanted. The tailor swiftly measured my leg, flung the pants over the manually operated sewing machine, undid the previous seam with a few strokes of a blade and proceeded to stitch up the new measurements.

I haven’t tried it on yet, but I’m fairly confident it will be ok. It will be ok, like the rest of me.

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