Somedays in China just never go as planned... you sink clogs, the projector decides not to work in class, theres construction happening next door, you students invite you shopping and you think they are taking you to front street across the road and you end up on a bus for almost 2 hours (seriously one of my favorite experiences in Nanchang thus far), you bite into a "chicken" nugget to discover its taro, you get asked to take a picture with the daylight donuts sign and get discounted donuts because your foreign... welcome to the ambiguity that comes with living in a foreign country! Last week we had one of those days.
Our team got a wechat around noon saying we were going to be filming a commercial that afternoon at 4. Our FAO would pick us up and we are going bike riding... ok see you at 4. So there it is our afternoon's plans... lets film a commercial for the school. There are 2 thoughts going through my head: SWEET, I didn't know I was going to get to be an actress today when I woke up... next step broadway! All of those childhood dreams may come true after all! And well I'm in a dress so bike riding should be fun but hey whatever I have on leggings and who ever knew when my dad was teaching me to ride a bike when I was 5 it would become a necessary skill to live in China later on.
Cue 4 O'clock: Billy (our FAO) picks us up to drive up to the shoot, which is literally like 2 buildings away from where we teach. We get out of our bus and see the camera, Chinese students, and tandem bikes. Oh gosh, those bike riding skills may not be of the tandem type... well here goes nothing. So our team boards our tandem bikes, gets directions... you are going to ride and talk to each other, then you will meet some Chinese students and say hi enthusiastically to them as you ride, give them a hug. Hold on hugs on a bike, thats weird ok maybe just wave and be excited! Ok can do that! Matt and I get on our tandem and miraculously don't crash. A few takes later and we are tandem bike pros and some of the most enthusiastic "say hi-ers" you've ever seen. A few different angles and close ups and lots of laughter from the hilariousness that ensues when your team is on tandem bikes and a bike crash (not me and Matt) not just once but twice into the same bush, and my acting debut is off to a great start.
Ok next scene, go sit in a circle on the grass and talk to each other. Ok can do! I sit next to a guy named Bear who speaks a little English and we begin talking, I get to use some of my Chinese and he tries his English out. More directions are given, ok we need you to be happier... Maybe someone could sing a song. Cue all the foreigners looking around... no um thats strange maybe we could all sing a song. Ok lets see a song we all know and the Chinese people know... ummm..... TWINKLE TWINKLE LITTLE STAR... perfect. Ok the film guy says make sure you smile and look happy. Can do... a few rounds of Twinkle twinkle little star later and we are done filming. One last thing... can we take a picture, no event in China is complete without taking pictures at the end especially if there are foreigners involved.
