Ken showing the key ideas on his Budweiser and Power Hour power point presentationA couple of weeks after the freshmen arrived there was a day when everyone could sign up for different clubs and get involved in extracurricular activities. Ken decided to form a club as well so he got some markers and poster board, began signing up members and thus Beer Club was born.
Daniel handing out cups for Power HourThe club is not as frat-like as the name sounds (I too was skeptical at first). It is basically an excuse to get some of the older Chinese students together, have fun, speak English and learn more about university culture on American college campuses. The club meets biweekly at Ken's house. I didn't make it to the first meeting but I went last Sunday night and had a good time. A typical meeting consists of an introduction with a power point on a certain topic (ie how beer is made, different kinds of beer, common drinking games), sampling new kinds of beer and comparing it to Chinese Snow beer and plenty of time to socialize and talk with other members.
The distinguished members of Beer ClubThis past meeting Ken introduced Budweiser to everyone and explained the mechanics of Power Hour. In this drinking activity, participants have to drink a shot of beer every minute for sixty minutes. There is usually music that accompanies this game and a new song switches every minute to alert everyone that it's time for the next drink. I had never done a Power Hour before so I fit right in with the Chinese who were also new to the sport. There was no way I was going to drink that much beer so I hung in as best I could and did halfsies.
This week - BudweiserOverall I would say that the second meeting of Beer Club was a success. There was minimal spillage and breakage of bottles and as the night went on, nobody minded as much that we were snacking on peanuts that were actually quite raw instead of cooked. The Chinese students had a great time. Partying, mingling and socializing isn't as much of a part of the Chinese college experience as it is in the U.S. and it was obvious that the students enjoyed the chance to relax and let loose a little. With heavy class loads, high academic pressures, a lack of interest in college football or basketball and the nonexistence of bars or parties, Jiangsu Teachers University of Technology is a far cry from places like The Ohio State University in Columbus. Thank goodness for foreign teachers and organizations like Beer Club that can bridge this gap one minute and one shot of beer at a time.
Cleaning up broken glass, spilled beer, peanuts and sunflower seed shells
This is HILARIOUS. First you quashed their usage of the peace sign, and now you guys have the chinese students binge drinking on a weeknight. I'm beginning to think you are actually on a CIA mission to subvert the Chinese labor force.
GO BUCKS! Nice use of "The" in the title for The Ohio State University. No college football to watch or rivalries to follow? How do they survive!?!?!??!
And since this Saturday is a big game day, let me add that Michigan sucks!
Beer Club? Yah, right! Good excuse for you non-fratrats to make up for lost time. Take it easy on those poor unsuspecting Chinese students. Now you know why the govt wants to censor Western culture.