Christmas in Anqing and the Coppers
Trip Start
Sep 01, 2008
1
12
46
Trip End
Jul 22, 2009
Anqing, Anhui, China
Thursday, December 25, 2008
We went to dinner Christmas Eve with John and Paul (two other crazies living here). We had Chinese food because McDonald's and KFC didn't sound good as traditional holiday food. We had beef and tomato soup, potatoes, and beef and veggies in a clay pot. Not like Egg nog, honey roasted Ham or turkey, but it was good none the less.
After dinner we went to church. It was a Christian church and we only knew that because there was a cross over the entrance. Also, they were selling fireworks and Santa hats outside, so that means it had something to do with Christmas. (Considering we all buy our Santa hats outside our local churches before Christmas Eve service.) We pushed our way in through the hoards of Chinese. As we are pushing our way through to the back we couldn't hear what the man in the front was saying due to all the talking. After a while of standing there in a corner an usher came through a side door and motioned for us to follow him. We did and he had found a place for us to sit down towards the front. From what we could tell it was mostly a "Christmas pageant". A few sang carols in Chinese and other groups did little routines. A group of little kids had rams tied around their heads and garland around their wrists danced, too. They were kind of cute and creepy at the same time.
After about an hour we left. It wasn't until then that we noticed all of the officers strolling around, especially by the church. We end up walking down the street which happens to connect us with the other church that is in town. Again we see at least ten police officers walking up and down the streets. What do they think is going to happen? A riot? This isn't New York! (But I suppose there was rioting in Athens this year) It was actually a very interesting feeling in the air. People were happy and cheery and everyone was saying Merry Christmas to us and waving. We went into the other church considering it was open for us to look at. What shocked us was that they had a statue of the Virgin Mary in the courtyard and there was a rose on her pedestal. We didn't quite expect that in China. After this we went home and sleep insued.
Christmas day we awoke to all the alarms and bells that go along with living in a boarding school, as we try to sleep in and ignore that part of the world. Presents were exchanged and smiles were shared between my spouse and I. Also our our 'schnauzer', Monty, loved his present that Grammy knitted for him - a stuffed panda bear! :~) Monty helps keep us sane sometimes when we both really want to have a real dog. The School we work for, God Bless them, wanted to take us out to eat for Christmas. This is not a bad idea but to me Christmas as always been a private non-business holiday. Just because I see all my students and co-workers every hour of everyday doesn't mean that I want to see them on a holiday like this one. Nothing personal I'm just need my own space for a little bit.
We went into town again to see our friend John and get dinner again. The restaurant was a western-style place that serves food that is somewhat close to picture of what you might eat. They try to emulate food from the west but have no idea of how it is made or should taste. But, they try. It was not special or delicious and it may be some time before we go back there due to Steve not feeling well afterwards. We did come back home and watched Love Actually and then fell to sleep. We both had to work in the morning.
Comments
Picture
I really like your picture together, can you post it so I can print it off. I really enjoy your travel blogs and pictures, it helps us understant your life style. Love you MOM