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China Elevator Stories

A Night Out At Christmas

I spend Christmas 2012 with drunk co-workers at a karaoke bar in Shenzhen.

24/03/2013

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Ruth Silbermayr

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On Christmas Day 2012, I have been with my then-boyfriend for less than two weeks. Since we haven’t made our relationship public, our colleagues don’t know about it.
A Night Out At Christmas

Christmas 2012 is nothing like Christmas back home. On December 25th, our boss treats me, my boyfriend, and a few other colleagues to dinner at a Yunnanese restaurant in Shenzhen. Since I love Yunnanese food, I appreciate the gesture. My boss and colleagues are all busy drinking strong, bright green liquor. Since I’m not much of a drinker, I don’t join them.

After the three-hour dinner, when most of them are already quite drunk, we head to a karaoke place together. For Chinese people, Christmas doesn’t carry the same meaning it does for Westerners. It’s known as a celebration, but quiet reflection isn’t part of the Chinese way of celebrating.

At the karaoke bar, my boyfriend sings a Chinese song called “Addicted.” His deep voice is perfectly suited for it. The others cheer him on and applaud.
 
Only a few days later do I learn the lyrics. The first lines go like this: “Every single day, I’d like to get dirty with you. Without you, my whole body feels weak (…) I think I’m addicted.” I laugh at the thought that he sang this song on Christmas.
 

Have you ever celebrated Christmas abroad?

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