dance: the 3-part series

(1) The International School Section talent show with the visiting British students. I got dragged out onto the floor at the end of the night by a couple of my 2nd year students, and made a very unsuccessful attempt at the choreographed routine dancing through some bamboo rods. It was fun, although slightly embarrassing - I was hoping they would still respect me as an instructor after watching me nearly break my ankle - and it was cool to be included in a typical Chinese tradition.

The ISS students singing at the "UK-China Celebration of Togetherness" (I won't make fun because I actually helped with that translation.) Note the British students sitting in front of me: blondes!!

Ben and Coco, my 2 first year students, navigating the bamboo rods... yes, I got shown up by 6 year olds

(2) A completely unplanned dance that still makes me laugh when I think back on it. I went running yesterday afternoon at about 1 pm, into downtown Bao'an. It was remarkable that even on the busy streets of a huge city I did not encounter one single non-Chinese person. I realize I've really overemphasized this point throughout my blog, but it is really unfathomable to me how foreign I really am to these people.

So, in a city where people don't run, a blonde girl decked out in running gear was clearly a sight to behold. After I had been running for about 45 minutes and was returning home, I got stopped at a stoplight. I'm growing accustomed to the fishbowl feel of Bao'an, but this moment was for some reason (maybe the long run in 95 degree heat?) utterly overwhelming. As I looked left, right, in front, behind, and saw every eye looking directly upon me, I spontaneously began to dance. I mean full out dancing, rocking out the music on my iPod, bouncing around at the stoplight, arms and legs and everything. People were so unsure what to do, it seemed, but I just kept dancing and looking back at them, and pretty soon the ones around me started to laugh. Looking back I'm not sure whether they were laughing at me, or with me, because despite my straight face I was probably equally amused by the situation, but regardless I kept giggling to myself about it the entire way home. I wonder if maybe I'm starting to go a little crazy - a la Britney Spears - but as long as it keeps me laughing I guess I will be ok!

(3) Salsa dancing, last night. I realize that going to a salsa bar until 1 am was probably not the wisest decision before teaching at 8 am, but a former teacher Zlato (yes his name is Zlato, he is a "native English speaking Bulgarian"; figure that out) was in town so basically all of the teachers went out together. There is nothing like peer support to keep the guilty feelings at bay...

It was cool to see salsa so far removed from its native culture, but also about what I would have expected: very few people there actually knew the steps. In fact, there were about 2 men for the 20 women on the dance floor, so I hardly danced at all. (Yes, very out of character for me, I know.) However, Carolyn - one of the other American teachers - is a dance instructor in Florida so I got to learn a bit from her anyway.

So that's 24 hours of dance in China! Tomorrow morning bright and early I have my final round of interviews to gain a residency permit. I'm practically Chinese....... or something.