Mingling with the masses...

Yesterday was the International Tourism Festival in Yichang. They invite people from all over to represent their countries in a parade. Last year I had class and missed it. This year I had class too, but I um, worked around it. (Canceling class early and offering extra credit for a cultural experience is valid, right?) Kim, Katie, Beth, and I headed into town around 3:00. Of course the streets were packed with people and you couldn't see a thing. Meanwhile I walked into a random metal rusty pole on the ground and thought I broke my pinky toe (thanks Yichang) right before I got hit in the head with a stupid umbrella. We decided to move.

We crossed over the street (by going under it) and found a small ledge to sit on. To do this we had to dip under a rope blocking off the area. As the police approached we decided to play the "foreign" card, and Katie charmed the policeman and the surrounding crowd with her smiling foreign face and Chinese skills. We finally secured our seats (we may have third degree burns on our rumps it was so hot!) and tried to see what we could. Unfortunately by the time they got to our section they were just walking and not performing. I can't decide if more people were watching us or the parade, so we just started waving like we were part of it. Katie got interviewed for some TV thing. Aiya. We decided we would be equal opportunity cheerers and cheer even if the Chinese didn't, like for the poor Japanese group.


Yes, it was freakishly hot outside, but really? Rolling your uniform pants up to expose your white ankle socks? Classy.











Kim's excellent view of the parade.













Three Gorges Cheerleaders? Never seen this in my life. And Yichang ladies
















We do love the dragon.
















After the parade, the masses dispersed and in 10 minutes it was if the parade never existed.















At this time it's about 5:00. We head to Guo Mao to observe the afore mentioned beautiful international section. We met Brad about 5:30 for a delicious curry dinner, and then make our plan for heading to the river to see the fireworks. Last year it had gotten so crowded that you couldn't even get there by taxi. We had heard different things from students. Some said it would start at 7 when it got dark, others said 8:30. It was dark at 7, so we took our chances with a taxi and made it to the river. We were suprised that it wasn't too crowded, and secured a position in good view of the bridge to see the fireworks.



Then we found out it didn't start until 8:30. Ugh. It's hot. We're sweating. We're standing. And the closer it gets to 8:30, the more people that crowd around and push. The group mentality is so scary. Time crept by slowly. It then became sort of a game to block people from coming into "our area." We were mostly successful. By the time the fireworks actually began we were dripping with sweat and not even interested in the show. But like you could get through the crowd to leave if you wanted to. The fireworks were entertaining, but maybe not enough to be worth the struggle. Once they were over, the crowd started to disperse. We knew there was no need to hurry since every bus and taxi would be full, so we just chilled for a while as brave school children came up to practice their English.

We walked all the way back to Yiling Square from the River. At this time it's about 10. Still no taxis open. It then becomes a taxi hailing competition with all the Chinese around us. We finally get in a taxi and head back to campus. The taxi driver starts jabbering in Chinese and Katie and Kim finally make out that he wants to drop us off at the University gate (a good 15-20 min walk from our apartments) because he doesn't want to go over all the speed bumps. We whine and complain until he agrees to take us all the way, but he griped the entire way. No one likes speed bumps. Get over it. Aiya!

So we arrive home around 11...I headed straight for a shower and my bed. What an exhausting day!

And to think Saturday we're leaving for Xi'an on a 15 hr overnight train to travel during October Holiday. Stay tuned...