This area has a large Vietnamese population, and we were invited to participate in the Chinese New Year festivities at their Catholic church.
It was the strangest experience of my life. There were a few white people there, but not very many.
It was surreal.
First, you walk over to the buffet where they have tons of cans of Bud and Bud Light. Everybody of legal age was drinking beer, but a few also had brought bottles from home and were mixing drinks at their tables. The children were dressed up- some in authentic Vietnamese clothes but at least one was in a Japanese kimono. Many women were dressed up in regular street clothes, but had a definite "hooker" look to them.
The children sang the Vietnam national anthem in Vietnamese and English, and then the US anthem (in English). Then we were all welcomed (in Vietnamese with English translations). More beer then.
Then came some singing. The band was electric guitars and a keyboardist, and drums. They played some standards (Vietnamese standards, I assume), but played some weird US songs. The singers were attractive young females, nearly naked and heavily made up. The priest blessed everyone, and then we went through the buffet. (Good food).
During dinner, more beers were passed.
Also during dinner, the band began playing more robustly and the beautiful girls took it up a notch. (This music was 98 decibels at our table, as measured on my friend's app on his phone). I kid you not, the band played that old Vietnamese standard "Hot Stuff" complete with the nearly naked lounge singer shimmying and strutting. (Fishnet stockings and high heels, a dress that didn't really entirely cover her crotch, and boobs hanging out). She sang it like a horny Donna Summer.
We all had more beers.
Then another priest, from another parish, came up to say a few words. He was local, and apparently well loved. He was distinctly Irish, the stereotypical Irish priest, and he sang "Too Ra Loo Ra Loo Ral" standing next to the Vietnamese nearly-naked singer from the band.
More disco played, and then a skit was done showing that all workers drink in the New Year (well, toast in the new year).
We all had more beer.
Then bingo started.
And then came the Dragon Dance with the kids being the dragon.
Then, we all had more beer.
Then came more bingo.
And then some of the prize drawings and the money tree.
Then dessert. My dessert was apparently green liquid and green floaties followed by another dessert of coconut jello-like rubber.
Then more disco singing, mixed in with some Vietnamese pop songs(?).
We left then, after only about 4 hours, and the night was still young there. It was starting to get a bit more rowdy by then.
That is the first time I ever left a church hall with a major buzz and my ears ringing. It was like I left a Peter Frampton concert circa 1979.
I had a great time!
It was the strangest experience of my life. There were a few white people there, but not very many.
It was surreal.
First, you walk over to the buffet where they have tons of cans of Bud and Bud Light. Everybody of legal age was drinking beer, but a few also had brought bottles from home and were mixing drinks at their tables. The children were dressed up- some in authentic Vietnamese clothes but at least one was in a Japanese kimono. Many women were dressed up in regular street clothes, but had a definite "hooker" look to them.
The children sang the Vietnam national anthem in Vietnamese and English, and then the US anthem (in English). Then we were all welcomed (in Vietnamese with English translations). More beer then.
Then came some singing. The band was electric guitars and a keyboardist, and drums. They played some standards (Vietnamese standards, I assume), but played some weird US songs. The singers were attractive young females, nearly naked and heavily made up. The priest blessed everyone, and then we went through the buffet. (Good food).
During dinner, more beers were passed.
Also during dinner, the band began playing more robustly and the beautiful girls took it up a notch. (This music was 98 decibels at our table, as measured on my friend's app on his phone). I kid you not, the band played that old Vietnamese standard "Hot Stuff" complete with the nearly naked lounge singer shimmying and strutting. (Fishnet stockings and high heels, a dress that didn't really entirely cover her crotch, and boobs hanging out). She sang it like a horny Donna Summer.
We all had more beers.
Then another priest, from another parish, came up to say a few words. He was local, and apparently well loved. He was distinctly Irish, the stereotypical Irish priest, and he sang "Too Ra Loo Ra Loo Ral" standing next to the Vietnamese nearly-naked singer from the band.
More disco played, and then a skit was done showing that all workers drink in the New Year (well, toast in the new year).
We all had more beer.
Then bingo started.
And then came the Dragon Dance with the kids being the dragon.
Then, we all had more beer.
Then came more bingo.
And then some of the prize drawings and the money tree.
Then dessert. My dessert was apparently green liquid and green floaties followed by another dessert of coconut jello-like rubber.
Then more disco singing, mixed in with some Vietnamese pop songs(?).
We left then, after only about 4 hours, and the night was still young there. It was starting to get a bit more rowdy by then.
That is the first time I ever left a church hall with a major buzz and my ears ringing. It was like I left a Peter Frampton concert circa 1979.
I had a great time!
