Christmas..."a la Chinese"!

DECEMBER 24: DIFFERENT CHRISTMAS EVE "a la Chinese"
... with buffet style Chinese dinner (the best of food was already gone by the time we all arrived... ;);
...typical Chinese lucky draw (and after it was over it`s amazing how fast everyone was standing up & leaving!);
...some not so special performances...
...lots of noise!

"THE" performance of Christmas Eve...let me present "bikini" show or "Swimsuit collection for the summer 2011" ;)

Inspiring, isn`t it?;)

Photo with Santa is so last year...this Christmas go for Little Sheep ;)




DECEMBER 25 9:00 a.m.: I WAS HOSTING ENGLISH SCHOOL X-MAS PARTY!

This is where I finally got some X-mas feeling :)

~60 students, some parents, teachers....with lots of games, performances, some dancing and presents for all!


After the party with my youngest students :)

After our event some of the kids were convinced that Santa is actually Chinese :)

Teachers :)

Santa & me...

...visiting older students :)





DECEMBER 25: TRULY MAGICAL CHRISTMAS FEAST WITH OTHER FOREIGNERS WHO STAYED IN RIZHAO FOR X-MAS with caviare, salmon, sour cream, potato salad, mushroom salad, home-baked bread and Russian champagne!!! (things usually not in our menu due to ignorance of Chinese shops ;)





DECEMBER 26: WALK BY THE SEA

Low tide created the illusion of shimmering frozen sea! Beautiful!


And for some time we were observing the phenomenon of migrating seafood seekers who were crossing probably ice-cold water (in some places it reached over waist-line) to reach the island right off-shore for a bigger catch! Amazing!!!






DECEMBER 28: SPECIAL NAMEDAY...with Macarena & fashion show!

Already last week I had agreed to participate in University`s End of Year party`s teacher`s fashion show as a foreign star ;) and also to teach some dance to the audience!

I decided to teach Macarena! They told me I would be Nr.8 on the program and Fashion show would be somewhere at the end..... so I was getting ready with other teachers in University`s office building slightly worried we were not at the party venue (my question of when would I dance was always answered with "don`t worry"..."soon we`ll go)...

The program had started some time ago and suddenly my colleague got a call that I`m up next with Macarena... no panic... 3 minute walk to party venue... as we were entering the party venue (and I was not ready for stage yet...as I needed at least to take my winter coat off and change the shoes...) I heard them anouncing me & starting to play Macarena.... I was still changing....then run to the stage.... luckily some students were also coming to join the dance and then during the dance I was dragging a couple more "volunteers" (including the main host) to the stage to shake it to Macarena tunes ;) Great success...even though with great chance of almost missing it ;) (due to "exceptional" Chinese managerial skills :)


Don`t have any photos from the fashion show yet, but here`s some of us posing after the show


And a happy group photo with all the performers!


HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!!! :)

Ho ho ho MERRY CHRISTMAS :)

It`s Christmas time ...even in China...and magical Chinese Christmas apples are all around today...:)

The Chinese word for apple “ping guo” has the same sound "ping" as Chinese word for Christmas Eve "ping'an ye" (meaning safe/peaceful Christmas eve), so Chinese give each other apples instead of giving gifts!

One of my colleagues today told that last year she got like 20 apples from her students...so imagine...3 kg of apples...each apple in it`s own present wrap... :)

And, of course, apple business is booming (and prices sky-rocketing), so no apple shopping for me today ;)






So yes...once again Christmas in China :)...watching LOVE ACTUALLY moviefor the mood, some Latvian sweets already brought by Santa for the sweetness and a branch of pine tree pretending to be a Christmas tree ;)


And it`s confirmed: Chinese wine (at least the one in the picture) can perfectly be used for making mulled wine ;)


And of course many opportunities for shiny shopping :)





Sooo....Merry Christmas & many apples to you and your loved ones!!! :)

DO RE MI :)

I have finally had my Chinese musical première: last Saturday I felt like Maria from "Sounds of Music" and with 7 cute Chinese "von Trap" kids performed the song "Do Re Mi" :)

And here`s the reason why... opening ceremony & press conference of English language contest in Rizhao organised by my school



After the event I was told there were ~ 4000 ppl attending (and I seemed to be the only foreigner :))...quite an audience!


On stage :)

By the "costumes" of some kids you may guess that there was no heating in the hall...


Backstage after the performance :)



After the performance there was a Chinese TV star telling about competition and motivating students to participate in the competition...meanwhile I signed more that 100 autographs for kids (felt like a local star ;)))... after this I really feel sorry for the celebrities having to sign on regular basis... exhausting!!!!!!

Next performance during X-mas party this Saturday! Stay tuned ;)

Shanghai rediscovered :)

Last week we made an escape to Shanghai for 5 days, so I had plenty of time to rediscover :)

A couple of times made it to my favourite area in Shanghai - Tianzifan (Taikang lu)- cosy maze of narrow streets, traditional Shanghainese Shikumen architecture, charming cafeterias, galleries, fashion boutiques, loads of souvenir shops and many other hidden gems :)





Supper cool outdoor bar where I finally had my Mulled wine :)
My next attempt will be making it at home using Chinese wine ...let`see if Chinese wine gets any better when it`s heated ;)


Wandered all around the French Concession and confirmed that if had to live in Shanghai again...would want to be in French Concession



Also made it to several DVD paradises :) 5-10 RMB (0,5 - 1 Euro) per DVD and got more than 20 new films to watch during cool winter evenings :)


Discovered new stuff :)
Hengshan Lu cinema (by Xujiahui park)


Sinan Mansions (Sinan lu/Fuxing lu) - new "cool to be" area with new old buildings, cafes, bars, etc...


Saw some sharks & turtles in the streets aquarium on Nanjing Lu


Rediscovered Wine machine in Wine way wine boutique :) All the client card holders of Wine way have the access to this wine tasting machine (never had seen anything like that in any other place) and then you just deposit some money on the card and can taste different wines....starting at 1 RMB per "try portion" :)


Rediscovered Moganshan 50 art area ...this was most impressive piece... from distance looks like lush green nature ...and then you start looking and realize it`s Shanghai in progress..


Re-re-re-re-re discovered massage :)


Discovered molecular delicacies & cocktails in Alchemist (Sinan mansions)...with menu full of ..fog, foam, elixirs, remedies and other mind-blowing ingredients! :)


Lightly smoked kanapachi tartar with avocado, yuzu, puffed wild rice, ponzu foam...in fog :)


Egg`wich: egg yolk, arugula-racette pesto, onion microgreens, garlic toast


Molecular mixology :)