Chinese Mother's Day Show at Eve's kindergarten:
First there was an art show. This lady is Eve's teacher, Sha Ren Laoshih.
Then they lined the kids up to get a cup of tea on a little tray, and lined the moms up to sit on a row of chairs.
They played what sounded to me like traditional Chinese music while the kids walked very slowly.
Eve felt very special that she got to carry the tea.
After carrying the tea with much pomp and circumstance, they knelt and gave it to their moms.
Unthinkable in an American school ever having the students kneel in front of their parents--we never show respect in that way, for one, and I can't think of any ceremonies that are about honoring the parents, not the kids, for another. American schools' ceremonies are, in my experience, all about celebrating the students. However, combined with the giving of the tea, the kneeling didn't read as subservient, just respectful and sweet.
Then each kid stood in front of her mom and sang a little song about growing up but always being your baby. This part of the show was a lot easier to translate from one culture to another--we American parents are always up for watching our children perform, aren't we?
