Lantern Festival

The Lantern Festival is 15 days after Chinese New Year. Our town had a Lantern Festival parade. The Director of the Propaganda Department for the next town over has a 5 year old who attends our kindergarten. When her son told her about us she thought it would be a good idea to have a foreign family on their float. The float was promoting the new Central Shopping District in Changyang (and let's be honest, what foreigner better embodies the spirit of shopping than my wife).

We told them that it would be an honor to be on their float for the parade. When we arrived that morning (as you can see from the pictures, it was a cold morning) we received many instructions on what to do as we stood on the float.

1. They told us that we could wave at the people

2. Jan (translator) recommended that when we pass the dignitary table Chyloe should blow kisses to the government officials because "I think in your country this is special thing to do."

3. The boys were giving tiger stuffed animals to wave since it is now the year of the tiger.

4. The Propaganda director told Chyloe that they needed to trade scarves since Chyloe's was black and hers was a brighter turquoise color.

Our float consisted of a golfer (there are 4 golf courses in Changyang), two Chinese models dressed as shoppers, and us, the token foreigners.

Many of our students were able to attend the parade. They were excited to see us on the float.

After the parade we were invited to attend a banquet with the propaganda department. It was the best meal we have had in this country. We sat around the table and ate and talked for well over an hour, all the while the waitresses kept bringing out more and more food. The manager from the restaurant had her picture taken with us because she was so pleased that foreigners came to her restaurant and enjoyed the food (you have to realize that this town is about 45 minutes outside Beijing so not a lot of foreigners make it down this far). The Roast Duck was to die for.