China Christmas

Ari, her "tree," and Chinese Santa

Arianna called saying she needed a Christmas tree, a Starbuck's candy-cane mocha, and someone who speaks English...could I meet her for some shopping.  The Sunday morning timing was perfect because I'm on a mission to find a few Chinese culture-type things to send home.

It's a hard time of year to be away from family and friends.

Christmas has arrived in China, sort of.  In Chongqing, it's an eye rolling commercial version of Christmas with stores throwing up a few gaudy decorations and playing sappy western Christmas music.  I asked my students if people celebrate Christmas in China, if they give and get presents.  No.

After the culturally devastating Cultural Revolution (1966-1976), China was a religious wasteland, but not for long.  The dominate religion is Buddhism.  The next most popular is Taoism, followed by Islam, and finally Christianity.  The Chinese Communist Party is officially atheists, a holdover from Marxism, and party members cannot hold religious beliefs.  However, since 1997, the government officially supports freedom of religion.  Unofficially, government's position on religious freedom is something different, as any Buddhist can explain.
   
This week, the last week of class, I took the opportunity to teach about the history and traditions of our American Christmas holiday.  Part of the lesson included singing.  First, I showed them a singing "flash mob" at a mall, and then later in the lesson I taught them the Twelve Days of Christmas.  They loved it!  This is a very poor video of my 8:00 am class singing this morning.

One class gave me a very sweet Christmas card.  "Dear Ann, We were surprised when we first learned that you are a volunteer of Peace Corp.  We are much more surprised when we see your devotion to us.
During class, you teach us and lead us to find our ways to study. There are so many interesting activities that make we become active and united.  Attending your class is really a good pleasure for us all.
After class you talk with us, telling us things about America, things that we are curious about but not able to find the truth through the ones we know.
And you are so cute that we love you so much.  You show us a really amazing American teacher and the way of American teaching. We do like it.
Thank you for your devotion to all of us. We love you. May the joy of Christmas be with you throughout the year.
Wish you many good wishes for the holidays and the coming year."

Ahhhh, I'm all choked up, and I have the same wishes for them.  Christmas is in China, and at its best, it's about peace, love, joy, and giving, here and everywhere.