Ill take Three Roman Candles Please: Part II

Fourth of July in China is a little different than fourth of July in the states. However, my roommates and I decided that we were going to attempt to keep the same basic elements in place. The first and one of the most important aspects of fourth in my mind, are fireworks. As you all probably know fireworks are made in China. But, what you may not know is that they are illegal during most of the year, with a few Chinese holidays being the exception. It may also be supriseing to you that American Independence day is not a very big holiday in China. This being the case I figured that getting fireworks would be impossible, until one of my roommates came through. He ask around to some of his Chinese friends, one of which, knew a store in another town close by that sold fireworks. On Sunday afternoon after my classes were over I recived a call from my roommate who explains that one of his Chinese friends has offered to drive me to the next town and help me bargain with the people in the firework shop. He wants me to go because he had to teach a class that afternoon. I decided to go because it is a chance for me to see a little of the country side and also take a look at another city. The firework store was about forty minutes away from my apartment. I arrive at the firework stand with two other Chinese people, one of which could speak perfect English and the other who can speak none at all. This firework shop was very different from any I have seen in the states. There was no little bottle rockets, or blackcats, just huge fireworks that were several times larger than anything I have seen back home. I point to some middle of the road ones that cost 80 yuan ($10) each. These fireworks are probably illegal in the states but lwould likely cost $150. Another funny part about this store is that one side is devoted to fireworks while the the other is sat aside for liqueur. I think to myself that this store's target demographic is college students and Timothy McVeigh. For all of you firework experts out there, the main ones I bought shoot what would be equivalent to twenty-five artillery shell fireworks.

I get home with the fireworks. We all decide to have a party and then go shoot them off later during the night. We invite all the Americans we know that live in Qingdao, roughly fifteen. As well as anybody else from a western country. Even someone from England came, we lit one candle before she showed up because she came by land. At about eleven we decide that we are going to go and shoot off the fireworks. The problem with this is that we live right in downtown Qingdao, a city of roughly seven million. We decide that we should walk down to a beach because we would be a little ways from downtown, which would reduce the fear that the police might come and arrest us. At eleven we start towards the beach. There about twenty five people walking from my apartment, caring an arsenal of fireworks, and a keg (don't ask that wasn't my idea). We get to the beach and start singing patriotic songs and start lighting off fireworks. A while later we see police lights on the top of the hill by the road. Now, I have been in China for a month so I am getting a little nervous. The last thing I want to do is end up in a Chinese prison for shooting off fireworks. One of the Americans that was with us that can speak Chinese went and talked to them. Luckily they weren't to worried about the fireworks they were just there to watch the show.

So that was my fourth of July in China story. I have a few other stories that I could tell. I will put up another pretty quick. Thanks again for everybody who has put up comments. I enjoy the feedback. I have been taking my Chinese class for about two and a half weeks. It is starting to come a little. It is very easy to learn the functional things that you need to survive. Like different kinds of food to order. I have started going out with Chinese people and ordering a bunch of food, and have them write down the things I like. Next time I go out I just order a combination of those things. I wanted to put up a picture of my Chinese teacher on here, but when I brought my camera to class she started freaking out and told me to bring it another time because she didn't think she looked very nice, so check back and I will have a picture up of her. She is really nice but she doesn't speak a word of English during class. The classes that I teach are pretty easy, I have some classes that I really like and some that are pretty boring. Such is Life.

Quote of the Week:
You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism. -Erma Bombeck