Toaster Oven, Iron, Vacuum and Bedding

What do all these things have in common? They were the giveaway gifts for every employee at Anthony's company's party last night for Chinese New Year. Every employee recieved a ticket with a number and a Chinese character on it. There were four characters, one for each prize. So if your ticket had the character that was chosen for the iron, then you got an iron (that was ours). I guess they figure everyone needs household items, so it would be a good gift to give. Most people I talked to said they would give their gifts to their mom, since they didn't do the cooking or cleaning or ironing, but thier moms did!

We had a good time at the party, even though the whole thing was in Chinese. It was also very much like a TV studio - they had high tech video equipment, with one camera on a crane! They were filming the whole thing and then would also show everyone who was speaking or singing on 2 huge screens - this for a roomfull of about 200 people. Anthony did a sort of karoake performance with four other guys. He sang "Country Roads" and pretended to play a guitar. He did a great job. His company had hired a firm to help make the party a success and they came up with ideas for the show and had people practice for their "roles". They originally wanted Anthony to show up at 9am and stay all day to practice for his one song that he was singing with 4 other people. He said no and agreed to show up at 3:30 for a quick 15 minute practice and then to stick around until the party at 5:30. We both thought that was a little crazy for a company party. Before Anthony came out on stage, they brought me a bouquet of flowers and told me I needed to take them up to him while he was singing - and I agreed, but then asked how he was supposed to hold them since he would be "playing" the guitar. "Meiguanxi" was their answer - meaning no problem, it's ok. I get tired of hearing that phrase. So, I did take him the flowers and he did awkwardly hold them and the guitar and sing his heart out.

He finished his song and it was time for a raffle drawing. He's backstage and they call out a number and I'm trying to figure out the number in Chinese to compare to the number on his ticket when the people at our table start pointing to me and hollering! I realize that the number is our ticket! I go up to the stage looking very bewildered and really wanting Anthony to come out and take my place. They are talking to me in Chinese, I have no idea what they are saying. They tell me in English to shake some guys hand, I do, although I have no idea why - the lights are so bright on stage I can't see anyone in the audience, which is a good thing! Anthony shows up so at least I'm not alone now. Everyone is clapping and I don't know why - still. I know we've won something, but have no idea what. Then I break this egg thing to get a character to see what character goes with what appliance they have for the giveaway. We are told to go with this lady to get our prize and as we leave, we realize that we have won the MAJOR prize! The SONY LCD TV!!!! We don't know how big it is or anything, but we won the big prize. The big prizes were a Camcorder, a 5000RMB travel voucher and a TV. It was completely unexpected and a total surpise, especially since we had no idea! I just hope that the audience understood that I didn't understand and if I had of known I would have acted a bit more excited than I did! The TV is getting delivered tomorrow. One big downside is that it's 220 Volt, so no matter how great it is, we'll be leaving it here in China when we come home. No matter, we'll enjoy it while we're here. Thanks AMD!!!