Divisional Christmas Party

Josephine and I, along with my other three teaching colleagues here, accepted our host's gracious invitation to join the International Educational Department's annual Christmas/New Year's party. Talk about great timing on our part!

They have a staff of 60 people; they run three separate programs-- American, United Kingdom and Australian--where they work with many universities (10 in the US) to develop and maintain the largest and best curriculum in China for its students. So everyone attended this big annual event.

We arrived at the restaurant which was built in the style, I was told, to give a rural farming feel. Built over the waters of the East Lake in Wuhan, we all entered smaller sized rooms in groups. The Dean of the Division, Dr. Wang, presided at our table, one of two tables in our room. Square tables—the first non-round ones I had dined at thus far—had two person wood benches on all four sides.

Josephine and I sat down together and within a few moments we learned the big black pot of bubbling stew before us was none other than...dog stew. Josephine jumped up in shock as I mumbled something about preferring not to eat a pet...through much laugher we switched sides of the table since they knew dog wasn't a preferred menu item. Mr. Huang advised, "You must get a photo of this dog dish!" So I obliged.

Throughout the evening small groups of the staff came in to toast everyone, so there was much clanking of glasses—in China you want to keep your glass lower than the other person's to show you are humble—and merry making. I couldn't help but think this is just like the Christmas parties I've attended and thrown at companies where I've worked in America.

There are more similarities between us—Chinese and American—than there are differences.