When I received the e-mail „it is our pleasure to invite you to our Annual Gathering 20008“ pictures in my head rose-up, largely borrowed from embassy receptions, inclduing a big hotel, nicely dressed people, glasses of alcoholic beverages, a buffet with fancy snacks and some boring speaches... I usually enjoy this kind of things, so obviously I immediately signed up.

 

Well, I soon realized that me (and my trainee-counterpart), besides another young girl, who joined our department two weeks ago, were about the only people who had signed up. When I started to ask around my colleagues, the main answer I got was „well, I‘ve been there last year“.

Somehow, this didn‘t really sound like fun... so I asked for details, in order to prepare.

 

What I learned was that the event took place in our China facilities, outside and that the „light dinner“ promised in the  invitation had consisted of two, cold McDonald hamburgers. After the „dinner“ you see some stage performances, the seating arrangement depends on your status and ranges from real chairs to no seating at all*.

Promising, very promising.

 

Yesterday, the big day dawned and it was the coldest and rainiest day in this winter.

We ended up getting cold fries from McDonald‘s and hamburgers made by the cantine (which is a subject to constant struggles, as workers keep on complaining about the quality of the food provided).

Than we spend 3hrs in the pouring rain (at least ist was fair, also the executive board and the CEO were under the open sky)and watched a show that included everything from traditional dances, over patriotic military performances (with a lot of flags and uniforms) to a group of rap-dancers and a magic-show prepared by local staff. Very interesting. In the middle was a firework and we thought it‘s over, but - as mentioned - it was only the middle.

 

After it ended we got back to our bus, to get back over the boarder, back to Hong Kong. Back to a pair of dry socks & shoes.

 

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*the advantage of being white and from the headquaters is that you get into the first category