China doesn’t really celebrate Jan 1st. Sure some people care, I mean it is the next official 20__. What they really celebrate is the Chinese New Year/Spring Festival.
This year it is from Jan 30- Feb 6th but it technically continues to the 15th and it is the year of the Horse. (I was born the year of the Dog and the description by some of the locals is somewhat accurate…if you are into horoscope-ish stuff) They all have a solid 7 days off.
My plan was to go with Ling to her families and celebrate, Kunming for a 24 hour spa, and then we would do a 3 day 2 night tour bus trip to Xishuangbanna. YEAH BUDDY!
But first, I will tell you about the Hospital (Yi Yuan) New Year Party. Two days before our chiropractic department was shutting down we had a hospital wide party. Lot’s of food, co-workers family were present, we had someone sing, about 8 ladies dressed in an escrow outfit did two authentic dances, and because they needed more talent: they asked good Ol’ Justin to sing and dance.
They know I like to sing and dance during patient hours, and at KTV but they don’t know about all my fancy homemade costumes and talent show experience I have obtained over the years.
I went with John Newman – Love Me Again. I didn’t feel like memorizing the lyrics in less than 36 hours so I did what I always do.. Wrote them on a small piece of paper that I could simultaneously hold with my mic. The day before the dinner we got off a bit early. I had been listening to this song on repeat and when I went home it was time to choreograph.
I already had an idea in my head of what I would do and once I watched his video I couldn’t help but laugh because at the climax of the song he dropped to his knees and that’s what I was thinking of doing too. Then I put on some usher and chris brown videos. Yeah, those moves are quite different but that didn’t stop me from trying.
Video camera perched on the water dispenser, aimed at the improtu living room stage, I took to the floor and busted a move. Watched the replay, decided to change a few things, add a few things, and watch and practice some “pro” moves a few more times. I finally settled on a routine that I think I could handle and would look um descent enough.
The evening is rapidly approaching and I ask Ling, um they haven’t asked for my music yet. Do you think they have a usb or a cable or what? No idea. Get to the dinner… food is fine…didn’t have to drink the bigiu…rubbed elbows a little and then it was performance time.
My back up plan was to grab the second mic and have ling just play the song into it. Great idea is what your thinking. (I got to draw numbers for the RMB prizes) Now it’s my turn to perform. Zero asking for music, and wait for it… NO second mic. UM okay.
I do an acapella version, with minimal dancing, crowd was clapping to my vocal rhythm, I was cheating by looking at the paper, went through two verses and then big clapping and apparently my show was over. Which I guess is fine since without the music the climax and ending would have been a bit strange,,, however I was looking forward to that part. I was even going to sing the chorus once in Chinese but they cut me off before I could. Another legendary talent show – Justin Style- in the books. You want to see the video…nope…you want to see the practice video….nope.
Now before I end this portion of the post, one important part I skipped over. About ten minutes prior to everything officially starting, Lee says, “Justin, I need you to come back to the hospital on Feb 1st and treat and eat with me and some #1’s from Beijing.”
UH, I’m supposed to be going to Xishuangbanna. It was asked in one of those ways that is like “I hope” and “they need treatment” etc and so it was more of one of those, I’m asking but not really asking.
I was able to do the other events on my above list and then back to work…even though it was two 3 hour meals a day and an hour of adjusting a day… I still call that work since I wasn’t able to do my own thing.
The next posts will be the events. Now that I am writing about the past, I can now tell you that not only would the same trip have cost 2x as much, but the other two people we were going with were not able to go because it was sold out.
EXTRA: Here is a picture of the chiro dept at a friends place. They live near a date tree farm. (guy and girl) Also, one of the nurses had a baby about a month ago and invited us over to eat. This is a picture of us walking around the irrigation channels.
Finally, I did a hike and here is the view. It was very steep and on the way down I slipped a couple times, even got a few scratches and blood. Felt accomplished and then Ling and I went the next day but didn’t go as high as the first time.
