Mid autumn festival

It is still hard to believe this is the start of my second year here in China. I’m settled in my new area and really getting used to how to get around.

It is still like a first year with IB Biology as it is a two year program. I did work ahead at getting materials ready for this year knowing how crazy it is with cross country.

I am also thinking a lot about my dad and my family. On the 19th it will be one year since he passed. There are still times the realization dawns again that he is not here….

Moon festival or mid autumn festival

Also known as the Mid-Autumn Festival, the Chinese Moon Festival falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month. Besides Chinese new year, it’s one of the most important traditional events for the Chinese.
Legend traces the story to a hero named Hou Yi, who lived during a time when there were 10 suns in the sky. This caused people to die, so Hou Yi shot down nine of the suns and was given an elixir by the Queen of Heaven to make him immortal. But Hou Yi didn’t drink the elixir because he wanted to remain with his wife, Chang’e (spoken as Chung-err). So, he told her to watch over the potion.
One day a student of Hou Yi tried to steal the elixir from her, and Chang’e drank it to foil his plans. Afterward, she flew to the moon, and people have prayed to her for fortune ever since. Food offerings snd family reunions are part of the holiday.
When the full moon rises, families get together to watch the full moon, eat moon cakes and sing moon poems. It is an important holiday here.

My friend Lilian invited us to the cowboy bar Mr. Rocky to celebrate. She brought moon cakes and we celebrated at lunch as she would be downing the evening with her family. We had a great time. She shared the legend, the importance of the holiday, and we shared a meal.

This is Lillian. She meets people and strikes up great conversations then brings everyone together.

I spent some parts of the weekend catching up on sleep and doing school work. I had wanted to go away for the long weekend but decided against it as I will be leaving for a cross country meet in Thailand.

On Saturday night, I went to ptv, a karaoke place. It is incredible. There are costumes you can try in and takes in with you.

I had to try this wig on.

My friends Ping arranged the room. It cost 75 rmb which is about $13. This includes a full buffet.

Each room had a dining table with tea set, two screens, a standing microphone and other hand held mics. There were plenty of comfy places to sit. You can choose from a vast array of some and artists and they had a great variety of singers from all over.

We had a blast. I normally don’t like to sing but thoroughly enjoyed myself.

The rest of the weekend I also spent exploring and running of course. I found new places to eat including the Mojito Cafe in my neighborhood (yes, the Mojito’s were good) and finding a new wet market to get my produce!