MOST uncomfortable and most fun

I know what you're thinking. Two posts in less than 24 hours.

Well it has been an eventful day.

In this wonderful post, we will explore the events of today: the most uncomfortable (moreso than the previous) and the most fun (or BEST).

The most uncomfortable: I spent the afternoon teaching by myself. I found myself really getting into it. I always like to tell stories to illustrate things, and they eat that kind of stuff up. In one of the sections of the poem, "If", by Rudyard Kipling, it says:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;

To illustrate the very last line, I told the story of when our house burnt down back in '91 (i think). I found myself getting into it, and actually getting emotional about it. It drove the point home well (to summarize: we lost everything, but I don't remember my parents "breathing a word about our loss").

Back on track. Most uncomfortable moment is very similar, in fact they are related, to this morning (my last post). This one was on a larger scale. I was talking with one of my friends, we'll call him Jack. Jack is a very happy man and always making jokes. Overall a great guy. At one point, he said in a loud voice, "Tyler, we all agree. You are most handsome." I believe he said "of the teachers" but in my own already uncomfortable mind, I like the first version better. There was some giggling from the rest of the class (oh, there are only three guys in the class. Of 30). But Jack was not done. He proceeded to turn around and say to the class, "Right?" And in unison everyone says, "Right!" This was too much for my already beleaguered mind, and I proceeded to attempt to deflect the compliment the Chinese way (Ohhhh no no no, you are too kind to me). This didn't work. Many of them voiced their agreement individually. Eventually, and somewhat quickly, the conversation lulled and changed.

I couldn't tell you why this makes me uncomfortable. I think it is in the FORM of attention I am getting. One way or another, it definitely makes me laugh.

The most fun: My roommate had a brilliant idea: invite all of the male participants to dinner. We have 220 students.

And maybe 30 guys.

So, he had one of the team here help get reservations at a restaurant. We wanted to make sure that WE paid and that they were our guests (we invited, so according to protocol, we pay. However, we wanted to make sure). So we told all of the guys: 5:30, front gate. When we showed up 10 minutes early to the gate, everyone was waiting for us. All of the guys. At first I only saw maybe 10, inside the gate. When we walked out there were almost 20 waiting.

And when I saw this huge mass of Chinese men, ranging from late 20's to early 40's, my heart swelled. They were all so excited to eat with us.

So we arrived. They gave myself and one of my compatriots the seat of honor at one of the three tables. They were so kind: they filled our glasses whenever they were empty (don't refuse. They'll lose face most likely). They toasted to us (make sure to read my entry about banquet etiquette. Although this wasn't a banquet, we did much toasting). In fact, I think we toasted to beer (they drank beer), soda (we countered with soda), young men, old men, fathers, sons, to students, to teachers, to each other, to English, to glasses, to no glasses, to friends, and on and on. I'll tell you one thing: the Chinese know how to have a good time. There was laughter and friendship. We expressed to them many times that it was our express honor to eat with them.

And it was. This easily is one of the greatest experiences yet. And I am sure that it will rank in the top for the entire trip.

There were many pictures taken, but none with my camera. So, we will all have to wait for a while until the team returns to the states.

Sorry this one is so long. Someone comment on these things, for once!