"A Dinner in Your Honor"

Yesterday, our list of to-dos, all got done. After a few phone calls, Mr. Lin and two others figured out our TV, realized that screens were in the windows, just all the way pushed up so nobody could see, I made a phone call to my parents on our telephone, and Ned cleaned the bathroom! Our friend, Sun Pang, which in Chinese means, a bird that flies far to the sun, took us to the big grocery store where Ned made half a dozen employees giggle with his mosquito charades, and outright crack up when he put on a cowboy hat and pretended like he was riding a horse down the aisle. Sun Pang helped us get everything we needed, and we set out tea and cookies for Mr. Zhang's arrival.

Ned and I were seated and nervous in our sparse living room at quarter to 4. Mr. Zhang arrived right at 4pm with an entourage of 4 or 5 people. Mr. Zhang is a large man for being Chinese. He is over 6 feet with a large belly and yellowed teeth from smoking. He carried a cell phone in his hand and had a beautiful Korean woman at his side. She introduced herself as Ms. Kim, or "Kathy" is her English name; she is the director of the English department, and Mr. Zhang's assistant. Mr. Chin, our driver was there, Mr. Lin, and Mr. Chin the landlord. The men were up and moving around the apartment fidgiting with the TV and the cooler. Ms. Kim was graceful in a flowered dress and warm smile, and talked to me about the university, my classes and how grateful they were to have a native speaker in the English department. Before we knew it, Mr. Zhang pointed to his watch, and everyone stood up. Ms. Kim smiled at us and said, "We are having a dinner in your honor. Mr. Chin will be back in a little bit to pick you up with a car, and we will see you at the restaurant."
After we bid farewell to everyone and shut the door, Ned and I collapsed in the big living room chairs to gather ourselves and take in what happened. I rushed upstairs to change into a dress and my wedge heeled Pikolos. In 15 minutes Mr. Chin came and escorted us to the car. The boy at the hair salon across the street, who had cut Ned's hair 2 days ago watched us with amazement as Mr. Chin and Mr. Lin held open the backseat doors for us.
When we arrived at the restaurant, we were escorted to a private 2nd floor room where everyone was awaiting us. We were seated at the heads of the round table, I next to Ms. Kim, and Ned next to Mr. Zhang. There were almost a dozen people there, 4 men on one side and 5 women on the other side. Jasmine tea was poured for us in little bowls as the introductions began. On the male side, we had already met everyone. Mr. Zhang, Mr. Chin our driver, Mr. Lin the landlord, Tom Stone the nice Chinese man who picked us up at the airport. The women were Ms. Kim, then Lu, Wu, Tu, and Yang. They are the women who comprise the English department. It's amazing. The English Department is all women! and Ms. Kim told me that in a class of 30, only 4 or 5 students would be male. Most of my students will be women, and I work with all women, how great is that!
A traditional Chinese table has a giant lazy susan in the middle, and on our table was placed noodle dishes, snow peas, steamed greens, a peanut dish with sardines in it, kim chee, Mutton, creamy soup with whole mushrooms, tasty fish, tender beef in steamed greens, fried rice, puffed pastry breads steamy and hot with sugar and red bean paste inside, and noodles with pork sauce. Were were poured whiskey and beer, and sweet yogurt in a glass that Ms. Kim told me would help me digest.
Ms. Kim began the toasts. She toasted to me, my arrival, her happiness that I belonged to her department, that she wished for us to become friends. After that she gave another toast, then Lu gave a toast to me. It was quiet for a little while, and everyone ate and watched the Olympics that played on a large flat screen on the wall. Ned whispered to me that it was appropriate for me to give a toast. I felt nervous, so I drank some more beer, and nodded my head in agreement. At the right moment, I raised my glass and thanked everyone for their hospitality and kindness. I told them I looked forward to teaching and becoming a part of their department. After that, everyone went around the table and toasted. Even, Mr. Lin who was so nervous, and could not speak English very well. I gave another toast, and Ned (the great speaker) gave a toast for China, it's growth, it's power; he made everyone feel pride, and then finished it with some humor on how "we have come to steal your secrets." There was an uproar of laughter and everyone took little bits of food from the turning lazy susan with their chopsticks. The server kept filling my beer glass, even if I took a little sip, and the yogurt proved to be a delicious addition to the generous meal.
I felt honored and thoroughly welcomed. I made plans with Ms. Kim to meet on Friday to discuss teaching and for her to give me my schedule. We all shook hands and Wu, my fellow teacher walked me out to the lobby telling me how beautiful I was and how she hoped we would become friends. By that time, I was pretty buzzed and everything was a bit overwhelming, especially since Americans aren't that friendly, but I told her I wished the same and that I would see her next week.
Again, we were driven back to our apartment, and both of us collapsed and talked excitedly about the night. We capped off the night with a walk around the lake in the park, and came home to bed exuberant about our long and eventful day.