I spent last night, Tuesday 16th June 2009, at a local YanCheng Hotel celebrating the 20th birthday of one of my Latin Dance Teachers. His name is Yang Bin. This particular dinner party is just one of the many I will attend in the coming weeks, as I am farewelled from YanCheng and Welcomed in Baotou, Inner Mongolia.

Yang Bin

But before I tell you about Inner Mongolia, I must tell you about Yang Bin's party.

In November 2008, I wrote a little story about learning Latin Dance in YanCheng. I was in a complete beginner's class with Mr. Gu.

After 2 months 5 nights per week, I graduated to the regular class, alternately and sometimes co-jointly, taught by Yang Bin and Wu Peipei.

I have only known them since the end of February when I returned to class after a 2 month Spring Festival break.

Although we have become good friends, I was surprised when I found myself invited to the birthday party. Naturally I accepted, and immediately began counting the financial cost. One does not go to a birthday party empty handed, and in China, buying a tie doesn't cut the mustard. Besides, being the stereotypical rich foreigner, I must spend a reasonable amount.

But what to buy? Well I ended up buying a bottle of Baijiu, (clear moonshine), a bottle of Wine, a roll of antiperspirant, and a facial cleansing solution. Those last two rated high on the 'desirable present list' according to Kurt who assisted me with my purchases.

Tao Hong (L) with Student / Part Time Teacher Fu Junxiang

When I arrived at the hotel, a hostess offered to take my bag, the one containing the birthday gifts. I politely declined her offer.

When we entered the banquet room, yet another tried the same trick. I had no intention of parting with the presents, but when I saw her point to a settee loaded with other gifts, I acquiesced.

OK! So there was no card with the gifts and I wanted Yang Bin to know who gave him these particular gifts. Well, as it turned out, it didn't really matter.

After the function, the hostess came chasing after me trying to give the bag back to me. 'Say what?'

'No! No!' I'm saying. 'They are his, the Birthday boy!'

'Ah!' she grunts, and turns around and pushes them into the hands of Mr. Tao's mother.

Mother looked like a stunned mullet at first, but I guess she figured what was happening and later, either gave the gifts to birthday boy or took them home and had a pleasant 'after party' - party.

Who knows! This is China folks!

Anyway, what a night we had. I actually ate my fill of food (not a usual thing for me in a flash establishment - give me the street stalls any day!) And we were entertained by some of Yang Bin's ex-school chums.

Blue shirt here, for the tiny thing that he is, belted out a deep resonant song to match the best the USA has to offer.

Professional to a 'T'

It turns out that Yang Bin attended some special 'Arts' High school where the subjects were song and dance routines, and didn't these guys belt out some fantastic songs.

Skinny little dweebie boys with deep, rich voices that would hold their own against any professional out there on the circuit.

And then there was the girl. Whew! No point even trying to tell you what she was like.

If you are not familiar with Chinese singing stars, then you wouldn't understand how fantastic she was. Even Yang Bin sang a song and later danced the 'Jive' with his 13 year old cousin. He also did a quick Jive with Wu Peipei.

Definitely a knock-out!

 

Wu Peipei and Yang Bin (Photo is lifted from a video)

Yang Bin and Wu Peipei teach for Tao Hong and were his students.

Mr. Tao is a famous Latin Dancer who has toured the world and jets off every so often to attend this and that event in London, and has in fact just this week returned from the U.S.A. where he was visiting some friends.

As these dancers are 'professional' dancers, the lessons are really just an alternate form of aerobics classes.

One is required to exercise and exercise and practice and practice till one is perfect. I always know when the first 20 minutes of the lesson is up - that's when I am sweating profusely; gasping for air, and generally feel like laying down to die!

But I feel confident to say that after almost 6 months of lessons, which included the steps for the Rumba, Cha-cha and Jive, that I pretty well suck at being professional, but I do have one hell of a good time - not to mention having enjoyed losing weight. I even sometimes get to dance with the girls. It sure beats dancing with Mr. Gu!

So dedicated am I to Latin Dance class, that even suffering the embarrassment associated with having 3 pairs of trousers ripping in the crotch, and suffering a broken wrist, has not deterred me from my nightly torture.

After 30 minutes of dance practice I am already a wreck.

It seems that if there is a slick spot on the dance floor to slip on, I will, which is how I managed to rip three pairs of trousers. One night, after ripping one pair of trousers I actually had to have my rear end covered so as not to get arrested on the way home.

Lovely ladies

I'm too fat to wear that sexy free flowing dance gear. I'm stuck with ordinary stuff, and when you accidentally and without warning, drop to the splits in those, it tends to damage (amongst other things) the crotch of your trousers.

As for the broken wrist, that can be blamed on a combination of the Rumba, a quick turn, and a bobby pin on the floor.

Lift - Turn - Lift - Bang! Hit floor!

Wonder why you are looking at ceiling - wonder why left wrist is hurting! Wonder how come people are above your head saying: Are you OK?

Anyway, I certainly am going to miss Tao Hong's Latin Dance Class when I leave Yancheng. (Not the ripped trousers and broken bones! Who knew Latin Dance could be so dangerous.)

So having attended my Dance Teacher's Birthday bash last night, I now find that I have 2 nights free before beginning a new round of dinners that will bid me farewell to YanCheng and Welcome me to Baotou.

Twinkle Toes in Action

See the bandage on my left hand? You get that when you fall down! That's a no-no for sure!

Friday (19th June), Zhan Yan (who lived with me in Hong Hu 6 years ago when he was 13 years old) will arrive from Beijing to see me. So of course a couple of my friends will join me to give him a welcome dinner.

On Saturday 20th, I will take Zhan Yan to the weekly foreigner's dinner. I normally don't mix with the foreigners but since it is the last night I will be there.

I sent off a tongue-in-cheek email saying that my Chinese boy friend would accompany me. 'Boyfriend' is Chinglish for your friend who is a male. Had I just written that, it would have been OK, but I also wrote it in Chinese, and what I didn't know was that only the Chinese can say 'nanpengyou' (boyfriend) without it being sexual. If a foreigner says it, it automatically means 'lover' (because as everyone knows - foreigners are degenerates.)

Large Canal in Center of YanCheng

The next night, Sunday 21st, I have a dinner with my Friend Mr. Tang, who has invited Zhan Yan, and my friend Kurt as well.

Then Monday 22nd, Mr. Tao (Tao Hong) has invited me to something, but as yet I don't know what it is. As far as I know there are no dinners planned for Tuesday and Wednesday 23rd and 24th of June.

On the 25th, I will be leaving Yancheng for Shanghai where I will stay overnight before flying to Baotou on the 26th.

When I arrive in Baotou, my new employer will, as custom dictates, throw me a welcoming dinner, and since June 30th is my birthday, I have already been told that a party is planned for that as well.

I think I am going to have a very busy couple of weeks.

Recreational Area near the Admin Building at YanCheng Teacher's College

My new job in Baotou will officially commence on July 1st. but I have been requested to arrive early. It is certainly going to provide a change of pace for me. No longer will I be teaching large classes of students with mixed attitudes toward learning English. My new classes will be very small and designed to get the 'fee paying' students immersed in the English Language.

YanCheng Teacher's college Admin and Classroom building

I had originally intended to remain one more year with YanCheng Teacher's College, but they were taking their jolly time confirming their intention to re-hire me.

While awaiting their decision, EET (Easy English Training) Language School approached me to help them set up a new branch in Inner Mongolia.

I found the offer impossible to refuse.

If all goes well, this change in job will also become a change in career. (And to think I retired in 2001).

Part of my contract requires that I be involved in promotional work for the company.

EET have already created a webpage introducing me to the good folk of Baotou, and no doubt when I arrive, I am going to be shown off like a show pony.

Sabrina Cui, the lady who sought me out for the position, is currently in Baotou drumming up business. As yet I don't even know if we have any students. For the moment I am the only teacher, and presumably we will be looking for teachers as well, once the work takes off.

Apart from the change in work, I am looking forward to getting to know people of the ethnic minorities, (there are a lot up there). And of course I am looking forward to taking photographs to present here at Magic City.

YanCheng Teacher's College Oval with some of the living quarters behind

I hope within a few weeks, to begin sharing with you my new life in Baotou in Inner Mongolia. Until then, my best wishes to one and all.

And Farewell YanCheng!

R.P.BenDedek

Email: rpbendedek@hotmail.com

For An Update on this story: Read: letter of complaint to David Gao EET Shanghai.

R.P.BenDedek is the pseudonym of the Author of 'The King's Calendar: The Secret of Qumran' (http://www.kingscalendar.com/), and is a guest columnist at Magic City Morning Star News. An Australian, he currently teaches Conversational English in China.

Stories from China at Magic City

"The King's Calendar" is a chronological study of the historical books of the Bible (Kings and Chronicles), Josephus, Seder Olam Rabbah, and the (Essene) Damascus Document of The Dead Sea Scrolls.