Shanghai Nights & World Cup Fever
Shanghai Nights
In an effort to get more foreigners out, many of whom say that there's "nothing to do" in Changchun, a few expats got together with the Shangri-la Hotel in town and put together a "1920s-style Shanghai Jazz Night". In terms of all of the western-organized events that I had been to in Changchun over the past seventeen months, it was noteworthy and a good time was had by all. Great era music and a lot of dancing.
World Cup Fever - Germany 2006
This was my first REAL introduction to the World Cup. Many of the European fans in Changchun are die-hard. With the time difference between Germany and China, many games were played at 2100h, 2200h, 2400h, and 0300h. Most of the western-patroned pubs in the town were open all hours of the night so that people could watch the games. The city of Changchun even showed the games live from a mammoth television screen in Culture Square for everyone to see.
China wanted to grow interest in the sport of football so much that they broadcast it live on two national stations. The up-and-coming social magazine in Changchun, ChangchunFriends, put the calendar up on their website (http://www.changchunfriends.net/) so people could know when games were.
It was a lot of fun watching the games. Some people showed up to the Paradise Fondue, a restaurant that I previously mentioned, pratically every night... you could tell when they were worn out from staying up all hours of the night. I saw quite a few German and British games with friends. But the Germans and British seem so much less reserved than the Koreans! I happened to be at the Paradise for one of the Korean games... wow! Koreans are some amazing fans. It was a sea of red at the pub and chants for every exciting moment. Absolutely something else.
The next World Cup will be in 2010 and the American team will be poised to make it to the finals by then, I have a good feeling.
In an effort to get more foreigners out, many of whom say that there's "nothing to do" in Changchun, a few expats got together with the Shangri-la Hotel in town and put together a "1920s-style Shanghai Jazz Night". In terms of all of the western-organized events that I had been to in Changchun over the past seventeen months, it was noteworthy and a good time was had by all. Great era music and a lot of dancing.
World Cup Fever - Germany 2006
This was my first REAL introduction to the World Cup. Many of the European fans in Changchun are die-hard. With the time difference between Germany and China, many games were played at 2100h, 2200h, 2400h, and 0300h. Most of the western-patroned pubs in the town were open all hours of the night so that people could watch the games. The city of Changchun even showed the games live from a mammoth television screen in Culture Square for everyone to see.
China wanted to grow interest in the sport of football so much that they broadcast it live on two national stations. The up-and-coming social magazine in Changchun, ChangchunFriends, put the calendar up on their website (http://www.changchunfriends.net/) so people could know when games were.
It was a lot of fun watching the games. Some people showed up to the Paradise Fondue, a restaurant that I previously mentioned, pratically every night... you could tell when they were worn out from staying up all hours of the night. I saw quite a few German and British games with friends. But the Germans and British seem so much less reserved than the Koreans! I happened to be at the Paradise for one of the Korean games... wow! Koreans are some amazing fans. It was a sea of red at the pub and chants for every exciting moment. Absolutely something else.
The next World Cup will be in 2010 and the American team will be poised to make it to the finals by then, I have a good feeling.
posted by MEIGUOCHURIUS | 03:21
