(Prelude? Did I say that out loud?) We had a staff meeting last week. It turns out all that was involved was the office staff and teachers walked from the school to the hotel where the Christmas Party is going to be held. It’s a beautiful 4 star hotel all decked out for the holiday season. I don’t know what it is called but I have a picture! All students of EF have been invited and of course the office staff and teachers. It includes a buffet dinner and entertainment for the children. The hotel is providing a magic show and other activities and a special visit from the jolly old man himself. Everyone is asked to bring a small wrapped gift around the value of 10 yuan for a gift exchange.
The party is being held on Christmas Eve from 6:30 pm to 9:00 pm for the students and after 9:00 for the staff and teachers only. That is when they will break out the booze! Merry Christmas!

I could not commit myself to going at first because my niece,Liz, was flying in from Japan to spend Christmas with me. Her train was due to arrive from Shenzhen at 8 pm that night. I didn’t think she would be up for a party the minute she got off the train after a 12 hour ride. We haven’t seen each other since her wedding in Windsor two years ago and we have a lot of catching up to do. It surely wouldn’t be possible amongst a crowd of hyped-up Chinese children!
Once we discussed my schedule and hers, we decided it would make more sense for her to do her sight-seeing in other parts of China (including a cruise on the Yangzi River and visit to the Three Gorges) and then make her way to Changsha for 4 days over the New Year weekend. I have 4 days off that weekend as opposed to only Christmas Day the previous one. I am going to book her into the hotel where the party is being held. The school has a contract with them and guests and family get a great discount – almost half price. Two double beds for 268 yuan per night which works out to around $70 CDN. I am planning to spend at least one night there for an all-night gab session and a hot, bubble bath!
So, I will attend the school’s Christmas Party. And take LOTS of pictures. It will be something to do on Christmas Eve. It will keep me busy and try not to think about home. We are looking for a big hotel or somewhere that is serving turkey on Christmas day. So far, not luck. But we did find out that Metro (a big German-owned Costco type store) is taking orders for cooked turkeys. We are looking into that as an option. So Christmas dinner is still up in the air. Cranberry sauce, pumpkin pie? I won’t hold my breath on those.

Kim gave me a box of Christmas decorations in what I thought was an empty DVD Player box. Score! I hung them up all over the living room. There was even two stockings which we hung up and are going to fill for each other. We will have something to open Christmas morning! Looks a little tacky but sure makes it feel a little more like home. We are thinking we may keep them up all year just to cover the white walls. My friend, Colleen, will be proud! One year she kept her Christmas tree up until Easter!