gratitude

One thing that is likeable about Chinese people is that a lot of them really really love foreigners. By that, I mean, they are fascinated by foriegners, they wish to give themselves and China face by impressing foriegners.

Americans really care less about how foreigners see their country. We do not treat foreigners as guests. I have a fondness for the Chinese way. It's sweet and endearing.

Sometimes it's a bit strange.

Last night Dongsheng Da Sha was putting on it's P-day foreigner fest. The entertainment started off with some karoake. That's about normal. Almost everything involves karoake.

Then a chick in military fatigues with a red beret switched on a fog machine and started doing some sort of musical martial arts routine. It was supposed to be entertainment, but it just looked like the military police had come to tear gas us.

The only weirder stage act I've ever seen was Ke You kindergarten's Christmas recital. That involved a few 4-6 year olds in animal suits and broadway stage make up, shouting semi English and bouncing around to Chinese trance music. I have never desired to be hallucinating so much in my life.

The floor show wound up with more karaoke, though this time there was a girl with a saxophone. She did nothing to shake my conviction that no one Chinese should ever be let near a saxophone.

Guitars: sure. Saxophones: no.

But the fact is they really tried, evn though they have no idea what foriegners like (Guiness) and don't like (Michael Flatley). I'm grateful for all the effort that is made on behalf of clumsy, goofy weiguoren.