The Geneseo Chinese Cultural Club hosted its annual China Night event on Saturday in the College Union Ballroom; the celebration included a dinner featuring a multi-entrée meal complete with appetizers, desserts and beverages.
The show, titled “A Chinese Valentine Story,” told the story of the Qixi, a festival referred to as China’s version of Valentine’s Day, and included a plot centered on a boy and a girl that was interspersed with performances put on by various members of GCCC. The night was cultural, informational and fun for all who attended.
Some of the meal choices in the buffet included sesame chicken, braised Chinese mushroom and frozen bean curd, stir-fried cabbage with szechuan peppers and, of course, fried and white rice. The meal, cooked by math professor Chi-Ming Tang and his wonderful kitchen staff, was well put together and featured both familiar and unfamiliar choices.
After his meal, freshman Uddhava Stowell said, “Everything was really good, especially the stir-fried cabbage. I’ve never had anything like that before, and I was hesitant to try it, but I’m glad I did.” The whole table agreed. Everyone was trying something new, but they enjoyed it all the more for that.
When dinner was over, the show began. Junior Jeffrey Ma’s character shared the story of Chinese Valentine’s Day to the character played by sophomore Jia Sa. That story involved the romantic relationship between an orphaned cow herder, Niu Lang (played by junior Adam Tran) and Zhi Nu, a princess (played by junior Susen Shi). They fall in love, but the emperor, played by junior Albert Cheng, doesn’t allow the couple to see one another. They are allowed to meet only on the seventh day of the seventh lunar month, hence the creation of Chinese Valentine’s Day.
When the boy finished telling the girl the story, he asked, “So now will you be my valentine?” and she responded with “Yes!” The boy, in utter disbelief exclaimed, “Really?!” and she said, “No, are you kidding?” This ending was sad, but comical – the Union Ballroom was filled with laughter.
Weaved into this romantic story were various acts performed by members of the club. Beginning with the “Lion Dance” and ending with the “Modern Dance,” each act presented a cultural representation of China and the Chinese people. The acts included a fashion show in which members of GCCC modeled various outfits associated with different historical Chinese dynasties.
Some of the more entertaining acts were Chinese Tops and Jing Chou and the Uncles. Chinese Tops was a competition between six people, each performing different tests and skills with Chinese tops. Jing Chou and the Uncles, a Chinese rock band, provided a change of pace from the rest of the acts.
The night was memorable and a success for the Geneseo Chinese Cultural Club. Tang, the advisor for the club, said he was thrilled with the performances and publicly thanked all who were involved. This China Night was one to remember and the quality of performance and food guaranteed that it will not be the last.