I know what you’re thinking. OktoberFest is in Germany, not China. Call it the “German invasion” if you will but this was the first year Beijing hosted an OktoberFest for Beijingers and foreigners to participate in.
After an impromptu invitation, I decided it would be a great anthropological opportunity to examine how Western celebrations have integrated into…yeah I just wanted to see what OktoberFest in China was really like! I did not partake in any of the drinking but I still had a really awesome time. There were four huge, huge tents where you could listen to bands, eat, drink, dance, and just have a great time. We chose the tent where the singers were dressed in traditional lederhosen.
This was not a traditional band though. As we walked into the tent, they were singing a lovely rendition of John Denver’s Country Roads. This was quickly followed by the Call Me Maybe song, then 99 Red Balloons (in German!).
It was pretty interesting to see a German band sing in German, English, and Chinese while local Beijingers and foreigners danced, drank, and simply socialized with each other. Everyone was super friendly and just plain kind. I sang along to all the songs I knew and got up to dance when they performed 99 Red Balloons (I mean how could you not?).
I hope they hold China OktoberFest every year because it was such an experience. It was also at Olympic Park so I got to walk around all the 2008 Olympic buildings, like the Bird’s Nest, at night!
I’m so happy I went to OktoberFest but I think I’m happier that I don’t have school tomorrow and can sleep in!
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When you come home for break we will have a December/January Fest. Linda and I met my friend and her daughters at Red Lobster in Arundel Mills (right near Books a Million). The look in Linda’s face when we went by the sign meant we had to stop by. I bought the umpteenth Bob Dylan book for her birthday ( I wish her birthday would get here already. She did not want to leave the store as they had 3 bookcases of music books there (no cd’s,thank goodness). We will go again soon. When we got home, I checked her book listings and she did not have this book. But will she read it or file it away? Today we are going to check on Toby’s house as they are in Spain. They come home on Tuesday. I goto her house more when she is away than when she is home. I know you are having a wonderful time (and you deserve it) but we miss you, especially me. your dad, your mom, your friends, well we all do, but have fun which sounds like what you are doing. Love Grandma
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