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Beijing Karaoke
By Carsten | June 21, 2005
Students: “Would you like to join us for a party tomorrow night?”
Me: “Sure, I’d love to!”
Students: “Do you like to sing?”
Oh, bummer.
I can’t sing. I simply can’t. Forget it. But the hosts aren’t very keen on listening to excuses, and so we head off to a true Chinese karaoke place.
Big surprise - I thought this would be a bar or something with a karaoke place in the corner, as I know them from back home. But no, when we walk in, it’s like walking into a hotel with a check-in counter and everything. And indeed what has been reserved is a sound-proofed room with enough seats for 10-12 people, a giant tv screen, three control consoles, 4 microphones …
The funniest part (to me) was that people didn’t even wait for everyone to arrive. As soon as we got into the room, music was put on and the singing began. No need to get some alcohol-induced courage first!
I was hoping they wouldn’t be able to find anything in English. No such luck. And so I have now sung boyband songs at the top of my lungs to a bunch of (I’m sure) wondering Chinese.
Several of the students are really good at singing. It turned out to be a really fun night, and it certainly broke the ice with many of those that had been hesitant to speak up during class.
As we walked out, I realized just how big the place is. I’m guessing there were between 100 and 150 such rooms in the complex. And people were still sitting outside, waiting to get in.
Got a chance to experience the Beijing subway on our way back. Very neat and clean, clearly dated but not to any degree that makes you uncomfortable.
Topics: Uncategorized |
June 22nd, 2005 at 6:00 pm
I’m still waiting for the MP3s you had promised to post here.