China Chat

Chris and Jiajia get ready to head out and celebrate the official end of Spring Festival,  Jiajia promises to make Chris a rabbit lantern before the day is out, and we get a mahjong update. 

Chris feels ashamed she forgot to mention “Voyager” on the last show as well as “Firefly” and “Battlestar Galactica”, both old and new. Jiajia talks about his favorite movies, and Chris and Jiajia speculate about the current origin of man theories.

Jiajia Is mystified with Chris’ deep and abiding love of Star Trek and attachment to Star Wars. He also can’t tell the difference. Chris does her best to explain. 

Jiajia and Chris are still recovering from Spring Festival, Tommy snores the entire show, Chris’s allergies are kicking up and Jiajia explains how he and his parents are helping Chris learn to play good mahjong. 

Jiajia and Chris go over the symbolism of the different types of lanterns, the meaning of various colors, and Charlie has a hairball incident during recording. 

Jiajia and Chris talk about the basics of playing mahjong, JiaJia’s family lets Chris win despite her ineptness, Lao Yang is fast becoming a pool shark, and Jiajia and Chris differ in their definitions of appropriate behavior. 

JiaJia’s mom gets lost visiting West Lake, but a friendly Hangzhou policeman helps her reunite with JiaJia’s sister, Jiajia recounts the spectacular fireworks display marking the end of the Dragon Dance for this year, and compliments the CCTV coverage of the Yangjiajia Leaping Horse Lantern Dance.

Chris and Jiajia are wiped out from all the fun and frolic from this year’s Spring Festival! Jiajia managed to survive the final Horse Lantern Dance for this year and Chris gets hongbao just like the kids! 

It’s finally here! The official start of the Yangjia Leaping Horse Lantern Dance and it was sparkling and loud! The crowds were huge and so were the fireworks! 

Jiajia and Chris chase the family Dragon Lantern and Chris gets pelted with falling fireworks debris, JiaJia’s ears are still ringing from the explosions and Chris figures out a little more about how everyone is related. Jiajia gets ready for tonight’s first official performance of the Leaping Horse Dance!