Beijing, China. One person was killed and 75 others were injured while setting off fireworks over the past day, the capital city's firework office said on Thursday.
(Xinhua News Agency February 7, 2008)
..and this in no way surprises me after witnessing first hand the festive and explosive celebrations that surround Chinese (Lunar) New Year in Beijing… an event which rendered me speechless, and will be etched in my mind forever…a truly amazing sight to behold.
The Chinese ring in the New Year by letting off fireworks intended to ward off devil evils. As darkness fell on the city fireworks began to explode around the city in preparation for midnight. Around 11, Kate and I took to the streets to witness the chaos and stumbled into a small residential courtyard surrounded by apartment buildings. In every direction, families let off fireworks of all kinds, volume and colour, causing children to scream and laugh, car alarms to flash and sound, and us to smile and frolic in excitement.
At about quarter to midnight we found some fellow tour-groupers and snuck through a window to the roof of our hotel. The sight of the surrounding city was unreal. In every direction, as far as the eye could see, we witnessed the best and biggest, un-choreographed display of pyrotechnics imaginable . Fireworks ignited from thousands of streets, courtyards, sidewalks, balconies and parks, shot into the sky, ricocheting off buildings and each other, and echoing though the night sky. Words still continue to fail me, so enjoy the video…
Monday, February 11, 2008
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Beijing : Chinese New Year
In Canada, flying used to be a common part of my working and personal life, but since coming to Korea, I hadn’t left the country in 11 months had developed a horrible feeling of cabin fever. So, the pleasure, excitement and thrill of taking a trip to Beijing was that much more appreciated and need. Oh, and how can one pass up Chinese New Year in China!!??
I didn’t believe it was possible to pack so much into such a quick trip.. but 5 days later, I’ve come home having climbed the Great Wall, explored the Forbidden City, stood in Tiananmen Square, watched New Year fireworks, visited the Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace and Llama Temple, Watched a acrobatics show and martial arts performance, took part in a tea ceremony, rode a rickshaw through the ancient part of town, danced with Mongolian performers, bargained for cheap goods, and flew business class.
Though I may have hated touring in sub-zero temperatures, the experience was amazing and well worth every toe I froze off in the process.
I didn’t believe it was possible to pack so much into such a quick trip.. but 5 days later, I’ve come home having climbed the Great Wall, explored the Forbidden City, stood in Tiananmen Square, watched New Year fireworks, visited the Temple of Heaven, Summer Palace and Llama Temple, Watched a acrobatics show and martial arts performance, took part in a tea ceremony, rode a rickshaw through the ancient part of town, danced with Mongolian performers, bargained for cheap goods, and flew business class.
Though I may have hated touring in sub-zero temperatures, the experience was amazing and well worth every toe I froze off in the process.
Monday, February 4, 2008
The Name Game
Students at academies are usually given English names for the convenience of their teachers. When students arrive in my class without, I usually let them choose, and if they want I will give them a list of options on the board. This has enabled me to have almost all my best friends in my classes, and it’s a pleasure to see them week after week when they’re living oceans away.
Last semester, a student arrived in my class and claimed to not have an English name. After making a list of options, “Steven” was welcomed into MIP4. This student is a little odd, and quirky, but is certainly entertaining. A couple weeks later, Steven was in the staff room claiming to be “feeling dark” and being a “dark angel”. While he conversed with Kate I learned a number of things : Steven used to be Kate’s student, Steven used to go by the name Maximus, Steven is in fact a girl. SHIT! I felt horrible, there really was no way of knowing, so I quickly just resorted back to the name Maximus, and so she been called ever since. Until last week that is, when she bolded exclaimed she would now be known as “Strawberry Fresh Maxi”….. I almost think Steven is better…
Last semester, a student arrived in my class and claimed to not have an English name. After making a list of options, “Steven” was welcomed into MIP4. This student is a little odd, and quirky, but is certainly entertaining. A couple weeks later, Steven was in the staff room claiming to be “feeling dark” and being a “dark angel”. While he conversed with Kate I learned a number of things : Steven used to be Kate’s student, Steven used to go by the name Maximus, Steven is in fact a girl. SHIT! I felt horrible, there really was no way of knowing, so I quickly just resorted back to the name Maximus, and so she been called ever since. Until last week that is, when she bolded exclaimed she would now be known as “Strawberry Fresh Maxi”….. I almost think Steven is better…
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Trooper
This evening I was taken out for dinner with my student Ellen and her non-English speaking mother. I had planned to meet them at 6:30, and at 4:30 I woke up from a day of napping on my floor and was still feeling the ill effects of the previous night. I cursed myself for poor decision making and spent the next couple hours trying to feel alive and get ready for what was ahead. Being the anti-socialite that I am, I was really concerned about trying to make conversation and using my student as a translator between the mother and myself. But the conversation side of things ran smoothly and what I should have been concerned about was their choice of “traditional Korean food”. Korean style is to have many dishes all over the table, and everyone shares the food, and both Ellen and her mom were excited for me to try it all. The plates kept arriving, and about 90% of them were heaped with various forms of seafood. I wanted to be a good sport, and didn’t think it would be appropriate to express my dislike of anything fishy. So, I toughed it out, tried everything that was there and played an hour long game of mind over matter. Some bites required a chaser in the form kimchi, and some pieces could easily be camouflaged and hidden in my bowl of rice, all the while my stomach wondered how I could be so cruel. But I managed, I’m alive and I played the game well enough that they requested for me a doggie bag of seafood Korean pancake… mmmmm....
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