Last week we were told that our group of 12 was invited to a party. It was a party being hosted by our ministry contacts friends. They asked us to prepare a short little piece of entertainment to share with all of their friends. Alright, we can do that!
By now, in a normal persons mind you'd be imagining a small get together at some ones house while singing songs around the fireplace. Am I right?? That's exactly what I was thinking!
It's the night before the "party" and we decide we better have some "entertainment" prepared since we will be guests at this party the next day. We decide that we are going to sing the song 'Firework' by Katy Perry…….. the Chinese LOVE that song. So we are sitting in a coffee shop the night before preparing our song and having a good ol' time.
The next day the 'party' has arrived. I'm really looking forward to going to someones house and sharing in a fun evening with them. I was certain this would be a night to remember in China……
Our interpreter shows up to pick us up and take us to where we would be for the evening. She gets some of her friends to drive us in a big van so we don't have to take the bus all the way across town. What a treat!!!
When we arrive it didn't look much like a house. It was actually a college campus. I'm thinking in my head, "Okay this is not what I was thinking, but I'll go with it!" As we are walking along campus you'd have thought we were The Backstreet Boys showing up for a big concert tour or something. Crowds all around us, cameras flashing, and word spreading that "American foreigners" were on campus! In my head I was thinking, "well this is pretty neat!"
What happened next about caused me to pee my pants.
Lolly (our interpreter) takes us over to the field. It's actually not a living room with a fireplace. It's actually a stadium of 2000+ screaming Chinese college students ready for us to take the stage.
Yes. This is not a joke.
While our mouths have hit the floor, and our bladders were about to open up the flood gates, we realize that when lolly asked us to "dress up nice" for this party, she was actually referring to us standing on a stage with 2,000+ people screaming at us. Sound Bizarre? IT WAS!!
When the reality sinks in that we are about to take the stage, we bravely hold hands, take a deep breath, and walk onto the stage. Lights are blinding our eyes, while the ring in my ears overwhelms me. Seriously people…….. I've never been a pop star but I can imagine THIS is what it feels like.
Now the even MORE funny and bizarre part?? There were a few acts before us. The one before us was a couple girls wearing as little clothing as possible dancing around shaking their body parts in every which way. THEN, we go on. It's not very often in your life when you find yourself in China, on a stage, wearing your 'dress up' clothes consisting of maxi skirts, nalgene bottle hanging from your backpack, and chaco sandals strapped to your feet……. oh yeah, and singing Katy Perry's song Firework in front of over 2000 screaming Chinese College Kids.
Well, it happened…….. and I guess you could say that's just the day in the life of a world racer!
