Just got back from Mama's house after a marathon dumpling eating session. I think this is the last time for a while that the whole family will sit down to eat together. Lots of laughter about last nights wedding and sharing of photo's and swapping of stories.
I do not know why I was worried about the ceremony, it was a fantastic night, everyone there was up for a good time. They are such good natured people. It started with Ming Zhi and I meeting and greeting all the arriving guests. This turn out to be hilarious, everyone was excited to meet me and have there photos taken with the happy couple. Weddings here are not as formal in the way people behave, as in the west. It was good to see all the kids running around in a pack causing havoc, I must admit to encouraging this. Even Lester the Australian English teacher was there! Then it was into traditional clothes for the ceremony, went off without a hitch.Well almost I got a bit carried away with the bow and arrow bit and hit the chandelier first go, but no one seemed to mind. Ming Zhi look stunning though out, I can't believe this wonderful woman is my wife ! At the end of the ceremony Ming Zhi 23yr old daughter gave a speech in English saying she was very happy that I was her new father, brought a tear to my eye that one.
Then as the last of the photo's were being take up pops Lester to sing an old classic love song, and he did it pretty well too! Much to his credit he managed to slip me a cold beer when no one was looking [its a long night so be prepared]. Then it was off round the tables to thank everyone and to drink a toast or two. We had managed to swap the maitai for water, when I say we, I really mean Ming Zhi. So we managed to keep it together. Ha, but there's always one isn't there! This guy fills up two tumbler's with beer and says that if we touch glasses it means that we have to down it in one. Well I had been good, and not had a beer all day apart from the one Lester slipped me.It went down very well along with the next two, after which this guys wife steps in to halt the proceedings, shame I thought I knew who was going to hit the floor first!:angel: Ming Zhi looked a little worried but said nothing. Then it was off to a table full of women who were Ming Zhi's closest friends. They said that we had to sing a song or play a game of there choosing, we chose the latter. This involved us eating a piece of fruit held by one of the guests. At the same time. Well of course every time we went to eat it it was whisked away and we were left kissing. This went down very well with hoots of laughter all round and Ming Zhi blushing in a very fetching manor. This sort of set the scene for the next few tables, sing a song or play a game, the best one involved a chopstick floating in a plastic bottle filled with orange juice. If you squeeze the bottle the chopstick would rise about an inch above the neck of the bottle, likewise if you failed to squeeze the bottle it remained below the bottle neck. Aim of the game to remove the Chopstick with our tongues one on each side, no use of hands allowed. Of course every time we tried the chopstick just sank leaving us in a very embarrassing situation, much to the delight of the guests. At this point I was glad Ming Zhi had swapped the alcohol for water. I must admit to having a really good time and I think everyone else did too.
You can not just sit back at these events the more you throw yourself into it the more every one gets out of it. The generosity of these people can not be underestimate ,we received many red envelopes,which more than payed for the entire wedding!
We get the photo's in a couple of days so I'll post them up then.
