Chinese, Champagne, and CHEESE!

So, the other night, one of these relentlessly rude and simultaneously kind Chinese kids has his birthday party and he invites the whole class. So, of course I went. (I was never really a starving college student in America, but when someone in Italy says they are going to make dinner and you should bring absolutely nothing, you purchase a bottle of champagne, hand it over to the host and chow down!)

Now, at this party are all of these people that we have had to "talk" with in class. We say the obligatory "Ciao, come stai (Hi, how are you)?" as we enter the classroom each day, smile and nod as they respond with "Bene, bene (good)." However, these people are not really our friends. What can I say, free food was calling my name, I couldn't not go.

So, we arrive, kiss-kiss (a typical greeting), and commence to the dining portion of the evening. It was typical chinese cuisine: fried wontons, orange and lemon chicken, fried spring rolls, and lots of Heineken for the Dutch Beer-lovers in the room.

Because none of the people in the room are actually what one would call "good friends," once our mouths were free to use for talking, we couldn't actually think of anything to talk about...This was noticed by all of the people in the room, rather soon after eating, so the champagne was uncorked, another toast was made and the taking of pictures began!

I mean, I've never been in so many pictures in my life. And, these Chinese kids just had to be in a picture, five or six times, with each person in the room. It all happened so suddenly...we were best friends, they were sitting on our laps, pressing their faces next to ours, flashing peace signs above their anime style hair do's. I think the picture taking lasted about 45 minutes, during which we ate cake and drank tiny glasses of champagne and sang happy birthday in three languages. Then, just as suddenly as it began, it was all over. We congratulated, made the kiss-kiss, ciao-ciao, and made our way to the bus.

As Eline and I arrived at our homes, we looked at each other and said "You know, that Chinese girl with the glasses. She took all those pictures with us, right? What is her NAME?" What a party.

Baci (Kisses)