An unlikely guest comes to "the show"

Last Thursday night, our HR manager, Lollie, notified me of a "Government Meeting" on Friday afternoon that I needed to attend.  Our Chairman, Abraham, had already left town for a business trip and the Chinese New Year holiday, so someone had to be the face of the company while he was gone.  And yes, that face would be me, the token American engineer.   Lollie said to dress with "formal clothes", so I came with dockers and a button-down shirt - that's the best I brought here.  Rambo, the lead manufacturing engineer joined us and we met Sam, our company driver and headed into town.

The Big Buildings

The "meeting" was held at the newly constructed Jingmen City government complex.  I was at this massive facility a couple of weeks ago to apply for my work visa.  And when I say massive, I mean MASSIVE.  Anything the government does in China is usually done BIG.  This complex is larger than most, if not all, 50 USA state house complexes and rivals any government building group you'd see in DC not named the Pentagon in size.  A huge group of high-rise apartment buildings is also nearby to house the workers.   However, if you take a close look at some of the offices, you'll see paint and stucco already peeling off the walls and ceilings.  I said "big", I didn't say "well".

One of several huge city government buildings

The city government meeting room/theater building

The particular building we arrived at is actually a big theater, or perhaps doubles as the local communist party meeting room.  The first thing that caught my eye (besides the numerous Chinese staring at me - I've gotten used to this) was a large throng of women in nurse uniforms seated in a group.

Lower level of the "theater" with nurses seated on the left

It turns out this meeting included all manner of government workers, their professions made obvious by the wearing of their workday uniforms.  Distinguished guests, like high level communist party officers and business leaders had the best seats.  And yes, you guessed it - so did I, right in the 3rd row.

Liu Ning Yi (Lollie) our HR manager looks good here, but was feeling terrible

I sat next to Lollie, while Rambo was in the next row.  Poor Lollie - she has been battling a cold and was feeling worse by the minute.  To make matters worse, a local TV film crew working the event kept panning the camera in our direction - after all, I looked AMAZING as I usually do.  Anyway, all this attention given to yours truly also gave the sickly, coughing, hacking Lollie extra air time.  I'm thinking Americans don't usually attend the communist party government end-of-the-year events in these parts.

THE BIG CHEESE?

Finally, the lights dimmed and out came a high level city government guy - as he walked up a loud musical flourish blasted the audience - it was like the Grammys, Oscars, etc all put together.

The music, fog and bright lights as the Government leaders took the podium.

After a short speech, He then announced (to another musical flourish "BOM! BOM-BOM-BOM! BOM! BOM!", more fog, lights and more) The Mayor of Jingmen City!  And the crowd goes wild!  Ok, the crowd really just clapped, but I can't emphasize enough how obnoxiously over-the-top the flourish was for...a mayor.   Just picture your small hometown mayor walking on stage to host the Miss America pageant.

Chinese "paparazzi" getting the money shots of the Mayor

THE BIG SHOW

Thankfully, the mayor kept his speech (whatever he said) fairly short and the show started.

This was clearly not a typically meeting, but an end of the year talent show celebrating Jingmen City and its amazing local communist government.  There were 10 acts - all singing and dancing numbers - and one comedy skit, which of course was impossible to understand.   The performers represented all ages from elementary school kids to older adults.

In between acts, a young perky Chinese couple extolled the amazing progress that Jingmen City has attained and all the hopes and dreams for a bright government controlled future.  Dude. Sign. Me. Up.

The show's hosts

Many of the songs sung were original compositions - and most were about Jingmen City. (I would occasionally hear "Jingmen" in the lyrics).   Fortunately, I cannot understand mandarin so I couldn't get the full effect of how corny this really was from my cultural perspective (theater isn't my thing anyway, and neither is one-party government).

Jingmen city boy band (we'll call them "One Party Direction")

Scenes from Jingmen City were often shown in the background to enhance civic pride.  They included government projects from all areas of the economy, construction cranes, factories, farms and nature scenes.  At one point, several scenes flashed showing the aviation park where a certain American engineer is making things happen...

This number included scenes from the aviation park where I work

But you know, after some reflection, I'm thinking I may compose an "Ode to Simpsonville, SC" ditty before I return to the states.  Or maybe "Shine Simpsonville Shine" would work.   Someone give Mayor Curtis a heads up and schedule my audition.  I've already sang Karaoke - it's time to kick it up a notch Simpsonville!