Just Jessica: Earthquake Fundraiser

This week Bond was asked by the Zhongshan Government if all of the foreign teachers would be willing to participate in a fundraiser to raise money for victims of the Earthquake. We were notified on wednesday that we would be in the program and singing a song... a chinese song. (eek) So we learned the song thursday and went to rehearsal that night in Shi Qi (shir chee). It was nothing like I had in my mind what it was going to be like. It was an intense thing they were putting on. There were several singing performances and people that would do readings as the voices of the victims. Luckily we were performing our song alone. There were four main singers that sang the main part of the song then it was us ILP/Bond teachers (about 20 of us), nurses and doctors (about 40) and about 15 kids from an int'l school that sung the chorus. We were kind of relieved when we figured out that we were just the chorus.

So Last night was the grand event. We took a bus from our school to Shi Qi at 7 and got to the building at 8 where we waited in a small VIP changing room that was meant for about 3 people, but fit all of us ILP teachers in it. There was a tv where we watched the program while we waited to be told when it was our turn.

It really was a really neat event. I feel lucky that I got to be a part of it all. Never thought singing for the Zhongshan Gov't was part of my agenda here in china, but you come to figure out that you cant really plan on anything in China, just take it as it comes. But it was a way neat experience and I really appreciated the opportunity of being part of this experience. There was a surreal moment, at the end of the performance (we were near the end of the program) we went back on stage for the last bit to thank everybody for coming (a ton of people on stage waving and whatnot) and they ended with their National Anthem. It was a neat experience, dont totally know the right words for it, a little intimidating. Looking out in the crowd with huge and little chinese flags waving and people clapping along to their countries anthem, was just a surreal moment for me. The pride these people have in their country, and just all of them coming together to help their country in distress was just a neat thing to have seen.