Last night Kevin and I went to an event at the Chinese embassy, and I've never said this about any other cocktail party or shindig that we've ever gone to, but it was really fun!
Now, some diplomats have invitations to engagements several times a week. But Kevin's not in Public Affairs or anything like that, so he gets invitations a couple times a year. And he invites me, and we go as a really cool, fancy date. But usually we just stand around talking to a few people we know, drinking juice and eating fancy little foods they bring around on trays. It's kind of fun, but I'm not very good at small talk, and usually people from work tend to talk about work a lot, and I don't always have a lot to add to the conversation.
But last night was awesome.
It was a Chinese New Year celebration at the Chinese Embassy. Everyone they invited had some connection to China, whether they'd worked, studied, or just lived there. There was a group of us from the US Embassy, and there were also a few other people I'd met who I recognized at the party. They asked people to prepare something to perform at the party. Of course there was an enthusiastic karaoke rendition of a Chinese song-- and it was well done. Someone read a poem in Chinese, and one girl presented a Chinese tea ceremony. Our group recorded a video of our kids singing a Chinese children's song, and then afterwards we sang "Yueliang Daibiao Wo de Xin" (a favorite Chinese song of some of the Americans), and John Denver's "Country Roads" (a favorite "Popular American Song" of many of the Chinese). It was a hit. We sang. People sang along. Everyone enjoyed it.
Then between some of the performances, they drew for door prizes, including a new cell phone and a fancy cloisonne vase. There was a musical chairs competition which Kevin played, and a chopstick-using contest which I won. I just pretended I was super hungry, and I got 54 little beans into another bowl in 60 seconds!
So after the performances and the games, there was a fantastic dinner with Chinese food (including Kung Pao Chicken, which made my mouth water the second I saw it. It's the spiciest thing I've eaten in months!!) and Brazilian desserts. The best of both worlds!!
The Chinese embassy has their own Chinese chef, who cooks lunch in their cafeteria. The American embassy... doesn't. I'm pretty sure there is no US Embassy in the world that has a US chef. Why would you export an American chef? What would they cook anyway, hot dogs and hamburgers?
I had a blast speaking Chinese to several of the Chinese diplomats. I got to admire some beautiful paintings, show off my mad chopstick skills, and feel for an evening that we had gone back to China.
Thursday, February 12, 2015
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2 comments:
That does sound like a really fun party! I don't know if with Jeff's position we'll ever be invited to fancy shin digs.
I've actually thought about that before: the lack of "American" food. I blame it mostly on our ill treatment of the indigenous population and the adoption of food from immigrants, food that we can't really claim. American food is from England, France, Germany, Italy, China, Mexico, etc. But most Americans have no idea what native American food is. At least, I have no clue.
I am so jealous! That sounds like a wonderfully fun time and my mouth watered just at the mention of having real KungPaoChicken!!! I keep trying to find the hidden Chinese/Asian grocer here (I know the Chinese Embassy personnel have to go shopping somewhere) so I can score some brown rice vinegar and make dumplings for a tastebud trip down memory lane.
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