New Years Parties

China doesn't really celebrate Thanksgiving or Christmas, but they have something bigger! Bigger than the turkey you got from Pick 'n Save or the assortment of Christmas cookies your mom made. China has Spring Festival. Otherwise known as Chinese New Year. Since traditionally, China follows the Lunar calender, the New Year changes from year to year. Sometime around the end of January to beginning/middle of February. To prepare of it, there are New Year's Concerts/parties. Last year I attended one, this year, I've already attended two. The first one was put on for foreigners throughout Wuhan. The second on, by Wuhan University. The second one was only traditional Chinese music, very nice, but nothing too special. I was the only foreigner. The first one... amazing! It was more like a variety show. Enjoy the pictures...

 

 The concert started with a group of zithers. It was very soft, smooth, and relaxing. 

Two co-workers from school. The girl is from Europe (Natalie) and the guy is from America/New Zealand (Linus)

Some of the performances were singers. They even had bubbles. :)

This performance was very interesting. I'll try loading a video of it. Hard to explain it.

We also saw a short Beijing Opera

It was cool, but the "music" is a lot of banging on what sounds like pots and pans, so it hurt your ears after a while.

The acrobats were very interesting to watch.

She could move in very unique ways.

They were both very strong.

This just amazed me!

There was a group of dancing girls. I enjoyed it.

The ending was a Chinese orchestra. Different sounding than a Western orchestra. They were quite good.

One of a kind

My student, Ocean (it's not as weird name once you teach him all semester) invited me to see a band with him and some other students. At first I said "no" because it was 100rmb, which is about $15. Quite a lot for China. However, I was rethinking, it seemed like a fun group that was going, and the singer seemed good too. Tamas Wells, check him out. He's from Australia. Nice, low paced music.

Well... on to the story. So, we went, they got me a student ID card (I was a Chinese tonight) so my ticket was cheaper.I went with a friend, so I didn't feel too bad hanging out with a bunch of kids 7 years younger than me. However, she is 4 years younger than me, so that's not much of a difference. But she seems much much older...

I know... get on with the story... My friend, students, and I listened to the mostly slow paced, good songs for about an hour. Then, for the last song Tamas said he needs some help with this one. That he needs 8 people to come on the stage. Well, I decided this is a great opportunity for me! So, I put my hand up real high (not hard when most people around you are the same height and shorter). Then I heard my students yell my name from the front right corner of the stage. I go over by them and Tamas catches my eye... he nodded and smiled! I'm going on stage! They did a beach boys song "Do you Wanna Dance". The 8 of us were the dancers in the back. My students recorded it all. In fact, I think more than one of them did! It was quite fun. Was a bit surprised I did it, but, being the ONLY foreigner in the place, I had extra pump of courage. That's right, as I looked around all night, The band and I were the only people not of Asian decent.

Afterwards my students wanted some autographs, so I stuck around with them and took a taxi back. Overall, a fun night. Glad I went and hey, I found a new band I like! Check out Tamas Wells online.

p.s. I forgot my camera this day, so I don't even have a single picture. :(