We started hearing about Luzhou Laojiao Tianfu Middle School’s 100th anniversary shortly after our arrival last year. In fact, it was a major enticement for us to stay for this second year. There were big plans in the works, and everyone spoke really excitedly about the event.
This fall, however, after experiencing several school happenings, we adjusted our expectations downward despite the big talk. The various assemblies, recitals, etc., were tons of fun, but very charmingly low budget. I mean, we’d seen kids wear garbage bags as costumes.
But things started to ramp up in the week leading up to the October 1 celebration. (October 1 was also two days after the Mid-Autumn Festival, and the kick-off to National Day, so it was a very exciting time.) A large stage was being erected in the stadium area, and the students were practising dancing and singing routines during any scrap of spare time they could find. Classes were even called off for a few school-wide dress rehearsals.
Construction wasn’t quite finished, but everything looked presentable. Anything that wasn’t done was camouflaged with some fancy signage.
The day before the big day, our boss Linda ran up to us to say, “I have a big surprise for you!” The surprise turned out to be: Foreigners! Heidi and her husband Richard. Heidi worked for Tianfu’s North Carolina-based sister school, Charlotte Latin. We all sat down to a lovely lunch together. We intended to get a photo with them the next time we saw them. Little did we know, we would all be too busy for next time.
We spent the rest of the afternoon wandering around and observing the last minute preparations. While watching the tech rehearsal, we met a recent alumn of the school — English name Michael. He’s currently at university in San Diego, but he flew back to China to join the festivities.
Foreign guests? Transoceanic alumni?! Tech rehearsal!?! This one may be big after all …