Happy Halloween everyone!!! Even though it is not technically October 31st yet and due to the fact we have to tea
ch on Wednesday, we thought we'd get the holiday started a little b
it early. I'm writing this on Sunday, after one of the funnier weekends I've had in a long time. While not technically Halloween related, the randomness of this weekend started on Friday night and it only makes sense to begin at the beginning. Looking for a low key night, due to the fact we had to be up very early Saturday for the kindergarten Halloween party, the seven of us deci
ded to attend one of our regular hang out spots, a Western themed restaurant/bar in the city named King Hansens. We sometimes like to treat ourselves here after a hard work week. The owner, Eva, is so nice to us, and over the last few times we've been there, 
we've definitely befriended her. King Hansens has everything from delicious pasta to pizza and sandwiches though the prices here are much higher due to the fact that most of their ingredients for these foods are probably imported. It is also the place that most of the foreigners in the city tend to converge so it's a good place to make friends and meet new people. King Hansens even has a kiddy claw/grab machine, that allows you to reach for cigarettes, rather than toys and stuffed animals, perhaps one of the funniest thing I've ever seen!
ch on Wednesday, we thought we'd get the holiday started a little b
it early. I'm writing this on Sunday, after one of the funnier weekends I've had in a long time. While not technically Halloween related, the randomness of this weekend started on Friday night and it only makes sense to begin at the beginning. Looking for a low key night, due to the fact we had to be up very early Saturday for the kindergarten Halloween party, the seven of us deci
ded to attend one of our regular hang out spots, a Western themed restaurant/bar in the city named King Hansens. We sometimes like to treat ourselves here after a hard work week. The owner, Eva, is so nice to us, and over the last few times we've been there, 
we've definitely befriended her. King Hansens has everything from delicious pasta to pizza and sandwiches though the prices here are much higher due to the fact that most of their ingredients for these foods are probably imported. It is also the place that most of the foreigners in the city tend to converge so it's a good place to make friends and meet new people. King Hansens even has a kiddy claw/grab machine, that allows you to reach for cigarettes, rather than toys and stuffed animals, perhaps one of the funniest thing I've ever seen!Soon after arriving, our new friends Terrance and Jeff, walked in and sat down for dinner with us. Julianne and Sheila met them one day while walking round the city. Anytime we see any non-Chinese in the city, it's always exciting, as they are likely one more person we can make friends with and actually be able to talk to. Terrance and Jeff are English teachers at the British Language School in 
downtown Tongliao and are from South Africa. They have been here for around 2 years now, and know the city very well. They also might be two of the nicest and most 
genuine people I have ever met in my life. We chatted with them for a while and they explained different intricacies about the city that we would likely not have figured out by ourselves. Mid-conversation, Terrance looks up as a white man walks into the restaurant. Clearly excited Terrance excused himself and makes his way over to greet his apparent friend. Before we know it, a new chair is being pulled up to our table.....and our new friend SABI (Sa-bee) has joined us. It is difficult to describe Sabi. No words can really do him justice. The most accurate description is that he clearly walks to the beat of his own drum. Sabi is 38 years old or so he claims. He is Hungarian and has been in Tongliao for 2 years. Ian described him best when said that
"Sabi is a Hungarian man who chain smokes cigars. He is a cartoon character version of an angry, lovable, alcoholic eastern European. He calls himself the "Mayor of Tongliao," and is a goose veterinarian." During the course of the evening, Sabi proceeded us to serenade us, walking up to the live music, taking the mike and signaling to the band to begin. While Sabi may have only been the Mayor of Tongliao in his mind, he was most certainly the Mayor of King Hansens. Everyone loved him and we applauded loudly with his song he finished. At the end of the meal, he pay
ed for our tab and invited us to the disco to continue our night. We happily obliged and spent the rest of the night with Terrance, Jeff and Sabi.
The next morning was the day of two Halloween parties we had planned for China. In addition to teaching english, part of our job here at the school is to expose the kids to as much American culture as possible. That includes, holidays, sports, music etc. Our mission today: show off the some of the fun asp
ects of Halloween and entertain the children while doing so. Really though, most of the credit for this first party goes to Kim, who does a great job with all the kinderga
rteners every day. the party ran a few hours and consisted of a few games for the kids. I was in charge of the Mummy wrap, which half amused the kids and half confused them! Some laughed and giggled when wrapping up their friends and others had confused looks on their faces as I'm not exactly sure they knew what was going on! I suppose I'd feel exactly the same way if a foreigner was wrapping me in toilet paper!! Other games included bobbing for apples and a game that involved eating a donut off a string without using your hands. We 
also had pinatas for the kids, which we pain stakingly made the night before out of paper mache. 
The party proved to be a huge success and they kids all seemed to be having a great time!
downtown Tongliao and are from South Africa. They have been here for around 2 years now, and know the city very well. They also might be two of the nicest and most 
genuine people I have ever met in my life. We chatted with them for a while and they explained different intricacies about the city that we would likely not have figured out by ourselves. Mid-conversation, Terrance looks up as a white man walks into the restaurant. Clearly excited Terrance excused himself and makes his way over to greet his apparent friend. Before we know it, a new chair is being pulled up to our table.....and our new friend SABI (Sa-bee) has joined us. It is difficult to describe Sabi. No words can really do him justice. The most accurate description is that he clearly walks to the beat of his own drum. Sabi is 38 years old or so he claims. He is Hungarian and has been in Tongliao for 2 years. Ian described him best when said that
"Sabi is a Hungarian man who chain smokes cigars. He is a cartoon character version of an angry, lovable, alcoholic eastern European. He calls himself the "Mayor of Tongliao," and is a goose veterinarian." During the course of the evening, Sabi proceeded us to serenade us, walking up to the live music, taking the mike and signaling to the band to begin. While Sabi may have only been the Mayor of Tongliao in his mind, he was most certainly the Mayor of King Hansens. Everyone loved him and we applauded loudly with his song he finished. At the end of the meal, he pay
ed for our tab and invited us to the disco to continue our night. We happily obliged and spent the rest of the night with Terrance, Jeff and Sabi.
The next morning was the day of two Halloween parties we had planned for China. In addition to teaching english, part of our job here at the school is to expose the kids to as much American culture as possible. That includes, holidays, sports, music etc. Our mission today: show off the some of the fun asp
ects of Halloween and entertain the children while doing so. Really though, most of the credit for this first party goes to Kim, who does a great job with all the kinderga
rteners every day. the party ran a few hours and consisted of a few games for the kids. I was in charge of the Mummy wrap, which half amused the kids and half confused them! Some laughed and giggled when wrapping up their friends and others had confused looks on their faces as I'm not exactly sure they knew what was going on! I suppose I'd feel exactly the same way if a foreigner was wrapping me in toilet paper!! Other games included bobbing for apples and a game that involved eating a donut off a string without using your hands. We 
also had pinatas for the kids, which we pain stakingly made the night before out of paper mache. 
The party proved to be a huge success and they kids all seemed to be having a great time!Later that night around 6:30, we hosted a party for the other Chinese english teachers in our department. We had given out invitations earlier in the week. The seven of us dressed up to mark the occasion. Ian was a bank robber, Mike chose Kevin Federline, Julianne an army girl, Kim a fairy, Cait a cat, and myself obviously a super hero! The night turned out great, as the really seemed to be enjoying themselves the entire time. Some even brought their sons and daughters who we had candy, games and music ready for. All in all both parties were a huge success! 
1 comment:
awww those pictures of you guys are awesome! Not so different from PC! looks like you had a blast, and the kiddies too :)
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