Not Just Any Company Party

Winter 2000

On December 29 there was a company party that Tim and I decided we should show up for. We were told there would be about 1500 factory workers and office staff. We imagined everyone standing around visiting in some dialect we couldn't understand so we decided we would just go for a few minutes and then go home. When the driver picked us up and I noticed he had a suit on. I mentioned this to Tim and asked if he thought he should wear a suit. Of course he was sure a polo shirt was just fine. Well, we got to the factory and talked to the financial advisor and she agreed with me that he should dress up more. So, we went back home and Tim got on his best duds and it was a good thing...

When we got back to the factory's office, Tim had some last minute work to do and I was fussing with email when the head of personnel came and insisted, in Cantonese mind you, that he escort us right then to the party. So we followed him to one of the factory buildings which are about 10,000 square feet. We could hear people singing long before we got to the building and entered to see a group of workers on stage singing their hearts out. The stage was beautifully set up in red and gold. Amidst all the singing we got escorted to the head table right in front of the stage, complete with a red tablecloth and big bowls of fruit, candy, bottles of coconut juice and water and the ever-present peanuts. As it turned out, we and a few others, including the mayor and the chief of police of local village, were to be the judges for a big talent contest. There were 23 acts, all neatly typed out in Chinese characters for our 'reference' as the translator told us. That was the end of our plans to go home early.

At the end of the first groups' performance there was thunderous applause. I thought the roof would blow off. The group marched off the stage in an amazingly orderly fashion and the next group came on. After every three acts or so a couple MCs would get a few people up on the stage for a game. It was a riot to watch, even without knowing the languages spoken. The acts included several skits including a trip to the barber, a visit from the fire marshal, and my favorite; a demonstration of how different nationalities greet each other. In the later, they started out with southern China where people shake hands and then hold onto each other's hand for a long time, then moved onto other regions of China, then Japan where each person bowed an infinite number of times, then British where the gentleman kisses the woman's hand, French, German, and then American where people give each other these big hugs complete with vigorous back rubs, during which they pick-pocket each other and then abruptly turn away to examine what they have stolen from the person. One had a cell phone and then other a wallet. I thought I was going to die laughing. Tears streamed down my face, and I think the people around me were more entertained by my response than by the skit. Then there were two classical Chinese dances, one where there were two couples dancing and a singer sang the story. The other dance was performed by friend Jong's daughter and it was one of the most sweet and beautiful things I have ever seen, complete with full costume of northern China. I was so stunned I couldn't even use the camera and my eyes were filled with tears.

I have come to realize that most of my impressions of Chinese dance, fashion and architecture come from the aesthetic of the north. I also find the food from the north much more to my liking. It is the dumplings from the north that I have learned to make. Since there are people from every part of China in this village, there are restaurants that cater to all tastes. All the restaurants here are little diners, none of which have screens on the windows, and many have bare light bulbs hanging from the ceiling for light. When I sit down to eat I tuck my pants legs into my socks to slow down the munching of the mosquitoes on my ankles.

The food of Southern China I am least fond of. It tends to be very spicy, drenched in peanut oil, and includes protein sources that I find more challenging, like eel, water bugs, and snake. Even though there are MANY places to eat, Tim and I have never gone to one of these establishments on our own. It is impossible to order anything without a Chinese speaking person along so we go where others think the food is the best. All menus are in Chinese characters that run vertically, so there is no hope. I can't even figure out where one would point to show which dish they want. Anyway, back to the party...

During each act there were usually at least 3 times when the group would like what they saw or heard and applaud loudly. Also during performances, people would bring up a single flower or big bunches of flowers in colored cellophane, doilies and ribbons for their favorite performers. They handed the performer the flower and then bowed to them and left the stage. I was so impressed with how supportive they were of each other. Something that is very popular and was done about ten times, was karaoke acts. The Chinese seem totally at home with a microphone and just blast out that song with total abandon, no matter how good or bad a singer they are. Off key, out of sync with the music, or not sure of the words were very common, but that didn't kill their enthusiasm one little bit.

Tim and I were right in front of the speakers...BIG speakers. We stuck toilet paper into our ears and we still had to cup our hands over our ears at times! It was truly amazing! The Chinese seem to love music. And the more of it and the louder it is...all the better. And if you need to speak to someone at the same time...just shout over it. I really enjoy watching them in action, but I often find myself longing for a moment of silence.

After the talent show there were drawings for the prizes. Tim was asked to come up to the stage to draw the numbers for one of the drawings. The company gave away lots of stuff from boxes of cookies, bags of rice, walkmans, blankets, bikes, and a color TV. Bikes are most people's transportation here, if they have anything at all. Most people do not have a bike though, and it is very common to see two people on a bike - one person riding sidesaddle on the back. Most of the workers walk to the factory, some as far as 2 miles away. As in India and other countries in this part of the world, motorcycles are often the 'family car'. It is common to see three or four on a motorcycle and helmets are seldom used. Anyway, Tim started up for the stage and the crowd went wild. It was the biggest applause of the night. He is so loved here. And I just couldn't get over how enormous he looked up there on stage! They had him draw numbers and read them in English and the crowd would applaud and hoop and holler wildly. Then when the applause died down the MC would the number in Chinese because very few speak or understand English, the person would come up for their prize, and the applause would start up again for the winner. I thought it was going to take all night! The comforters cost about 40 American dollars, as did the bikes. The color TV about $300. Realize the managers probably make about 500-700 American dollars a month. The factory workers make about $100. A young woman factory worker won the TV. I think she was in shock when she went up. She didn't even smile for most of the time she was on stage. When we were being driven home we saw 2 men balancing her TV on the back of a bike so we stopped to offer her a ride. Of course I opened the door and started speaking in English - duh - but at least I motioned for the guys to put it in the back of the truck (which they understood, miracle of miracles) and slid over and patted the seat for her to sit in by me. She hopped in and took my hand with both of her hands started talking away to me in Cantonese - serves me right. Luckily the financial adviser was with us and translated. She told us she just couldn't believe she had won the TV. She said she had never won anything before. She thanked us for the ride, and then the truck stopped in front of a little alley that led to a footbridge that crossed the canal. We could go no further, so she and her friends took off into the night carrying her prize. What a night...