TPR family greets Chinese New Year

MORE than 150 Chinese education officials, guests and foreign teachers watched song-and-dance, poem recitation, witty skits and other performances and took part in lucky draws at the 2008 “I Love TPR” New Year Party at the Paradise Hill Hotel, Jida, Tuesday evening.

“It’s a good way to know Chinese culture,” Flora Tebyanian, a TPR English teacher from Canada, said. “Although I don’t know most of the performances, I can feel the happiness and know how Chinese celebrate the New Year though,” she added, revealing her favorite programme was a professional Latin dance show by a male and female teacher from a Latin dance school.

The first performance, a group dance by branch coordinators of the school, created a warm atmosphere for the New Year celebration. The performers on stage threw fresh flowers and Chinese knots to the audience, which aroused immense shouts of joy. They also stepped off the stage and delivered red paper packets containing small amounts of money to people at the tables. Those presented with such gifts showed excitement and showed off in front of their colleagues.

The most interesting performance was a witty skit performed by Craig Powell, a TPR Zhongshan Branch teacher from the US; Alan Cooney, an Irishman working with Craig; and some Chinese staff from the branch. Craig, with a crescent-shaped “scar” on his forehead, played Judge Bao Gong -- God of Justice -- a symbol of justice and integrity in ancient China. However, the foreign “Bao Gong” was dismissed temporarily from his position for malpractice in the office -- talking on the phone with his lover in the court. Alan played a foreign job seeker who was interviewed by a TPR human resource manager behind the desk. In front of the desk stood two lines of young women holding a sugarcane each in the hand to play the “Yamen runners” in the court. They growled “Wei Wu” to revere the court and to frighten criminals between each interview while stabbing the sugarcane on the ground. The witty skit won enormous applause and laughter.

“I know only a little about Bao Gong,” Craig said. “I don’t understand the performances, but I like them,” he said. He has worked in the Zhongshan Branch for seven months, and it was his third time to take part in TPR parties. “Each time I see something new and each time the party becomes better,” he noted, adding it was a good chance to meet colleagues from the headquarters and other branches.

A droll dance performed by a group of working staff from the English Enterprise Department also greatly amused the audience. In tone with the familiar music, a group of young women dressed in Swan Lake style garb danced gracefully on stage, which was followed by two males, one in a white tutu and the other, black. They entered the stage and performed in a weird way with hugs one after another. This caused bursts of laughter.
TPR staff were extremely zealous in performing and cheering. Branch coordinators, new staff, branch staff and teacher group went on the stage to show their talent. They were devoted to the performances and cheering. “TPR provides an ideal place for Chinese and foreign working staff to mingle and to know each other’s culture. That’s why we love TPR,” a Chinese staff member surnamed Yang said.

Four children and an adult were granted Excellent Student certificates. Meanwhile, TPR Principal Simone Xue presented certificates to TPR support suppliers in advertising, furnishing and other occupations to show appreciation. “We’ve become a big family,” he explained.

Lucky draws were the highlight of the party. The special prize, a digital camera, went to an excellent staff member from Jida Branch and the three first-prizes, an oven each, went to three guests including a child student. Other prizes included induction cookers and sand-fired soup cookers. “We treasure our family concept and so all our gifts are related to household articles,” a woman working with the English Enterprise Department explained.

Bouquets of flowers were presented to Chinese and foreign teachers to salute their hard work in the past year and excellent Chinese working staff members were given chances to visit the Philippines.