Zhong Qiu Jie at School

Now we are one year veterans of Suzhe, we know what to expect, so Dada and Mama took Katy to school for her class Zhong Qiu Jie (Mid Autumn Festival) party.  We are very fortunate, and Katy is very fortunate, that both Mama and Dada are able to attend her activities.

When we arrived, the kids started with a game singing in a big circle. 

When the song stops, the chosen child gets to choose one of the hanging "lanterns".  Then the child (or Lu Laoshi) reads the riddle written on the lantern and the kids have to guess the answer.  They get a sticker if they guess correctly.  It's a very traditional game to play in China and especially for Zhong Qiu Jie, which revolves around activities to do with the moon and lanterns.  (The adult version involves a drinking game and reciting poetry, completing incomplete poems etc)

Dada and I really enjoy watching the kids perform their songs and dances so enthusiastically!

Katy does too.

The last game we played was "ba luobo" (pick the turnip).  Again, a very traditional Chinese game and song for kids.  All the kids want to be the luobo.

Finally, Katy was chosen to be the luobo.

Lu Laoshi gets the song going.

She's a born performer, with a Chinese opera voice when reciting or singing!

First come the Gong Gongs to come to try to pick the turnip!

Then the Gong Gongs recruit the Poh Pohs to come help.

On and on it goes through little kid, little dog...until finally a whole string of kids manage to pull the turnip out of the ground!

Well, then the kids thought it was absolutely hilarious when the parents got to play too.  Of course Lu Laoshi chose Dada to be the turnip.

Auntie Winnie got to be the cat and she really played up to it.

We had so much fun!  It was a very international morning.  Katy's cheongsam are getting too small, so we had her dressed gorgeously in the ao dai we bought for her in Hanoi, and Michelle came dressed in full Indian regalia complete with large bindi on her forehead!

After the turnip game, the kids share a bunch of Mid Autumn snacks - mooncakes, pomelo, starfruit.