Life's a stage

Hello, from the blog of ballerina Laura. The day has come when I've been able to dance in front of a Chinese audience.

Today after class, the FAO took us to the university's "small theatre" for a performance rehearsal. The university's 15th year anniversary is in January, and the foreigners will be a part of the crew who helps mark the occasion.

I was surprised when we walked into a really ornate, formal building that had a huge stage and seats. There was a random audience of students, teachers, and nurses gathered. Our team sang a song that Shannon and Joelle had written. Shannon played a drum and Jodi played the guitar. The rest of us sang, and we each had microphones. In addition, we each had a "solo"--a line each. And the song was half in English, half in Chinese. Everyone in the audience started clapping along.

I don't think they cared if we could sing well or not. They love the foreign teachers. And at the end we said, "Wo ai Zhongguo; Wo ai Nanchang; Wo ai Lan Tian!" (I love China; I love Nanchang; I love Blue Sky!) They went crazy, because they truly love their country and university above all.

We ran off the stage, and music immediately played for my ballet dance that I've been choreographing. Everyone was watching, enraptured, and I tried my best to dance well. I think all those many years of performing the Nutcracker, Swan Lake, etc. paid off. At the end I ran off and then ran back on for a curtsy and then ran off again. I was so glad to see that I could still dance. And I'm glad I pleased everyone. People gathered back stage were also glad. One tall guy went up to me, smiling so broadly. He put two thumbs up right in my face and it looked like he was going to kiss me. And another guy asked in Chinese if I was Russian.

Then we watched the other performances. Most of them were also dances, and they were pretty good. It was just so exciting. It was slightly less exciting when one of my students came up to me backstage begging for a better grade on her exam. I didn't expect to see her there. Yesterday I had to give her a zero on her final because she kept cheating on her exam, despite numerous warnings.

Anyway, I have come to the conclusion that China is a society which loves putting on a show. Students are constantly practicing for a performance on any given day. And our team's participation in this particular show is practically mandatory. Oh, well! It's sort of fun.

In other news, I've been conducting final exams and hanging out with students, usually for lunch. They have also been giving me Christmas presents that make me want to cry. One girl came to my office today with a box wrapped in paper. I opened it, and inside there were literally hundreds of tiny origami cranes and hearts that she had folded. It almost took my breath away. I will have to post a picture of it.

Then other students gave me lots of chocolate, since once upon a time I said I liked chocolate. I have enough to last me the rest of my life. A couple other girls gave me a pretty jar with about a hundred 3D paper stars in a million different colors they had folded. There were also little scrolls rolled up with little messages like, "We wish you a happy everyday!" and "We love you!"

I also went out to lunch with one of my students, who is interested in the Word. I paid for lunch last time, so I received a text message from her today that said, "Dear Laura-- you are in china. i'm landlord. you had the bill last time so i will foot the bill today. it's called "courtesy demand reciprocity" so i will do that today. it's my pleasure. :)" I just liked the part about "i'm landlord."

So as the semester is drawing to a close, my students are growing so much dearer. Today when I was watching over them as they diligently took an exam, my heart felt like it was going to burst. They are the sweetest kids and I want them to have hope in the Father so much.

Wow, that was a lot I had to say today. Thanks for reading. And thanks for lifting us up! There is so much happening right now, that I'm barely sleeping, barely eating, and barely stopping to breathe. Maybe you can think of me that I would rely on Him and not on my own strength.